Federal cabinet minister Sussan Ley has rejected claims the government is pursuing Senate voting changes for a double-dissolution election.
The health minister echoed the prime minister's expectation that voters will go to the polls between August and September, saying the Australian Electoral Commission needs a long lead time to implement changes that are expected to clear parliament in mid-March.
"There is absolutely no conspiracy. It's a simple matter of procedure and process," she told ABC TV on Tuesday.
Frontbench colleague Steve Ciobo said the election will be in August or September, "give or take".
"We will make an assessment about what we think is in the national interest," he told Sky News.
Mr Ciobo said the government was pursuing Senate voting changes because elements of the crossbench was not representative of the people.
Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann said the government could hold a double-dissolution election, irrespective of what happens with the voting changes.
"The improvements to Senate voting arrangements stand on their own two feet," he told ABC radio.
Whenever the election was held, it was important the result reflected the will of the people.
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