Six months on Turnbull toys with poll date

It will become clear this week if Malcolm Turnbull wants an early election as he would need to ask the Senate for extra sitting days.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull today celebrates six months since rolling Tony Abbott for the top job. (AAP)

Malcolm Turnbull celebrates six months since rolling Tony Abbott for the top job on Monday, starting a week that could settle the timing of the federal election.

Parliament sits for three days starting Tuesday.

This will be the final gathering before the May 10 budget - the day before a double dissolution election for July 2 could be called.

Government business will focus on passing its Senate voting reforms rather than trying to find another double dissolution trigger, Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann says.

Crucial legislation for the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, that could be used as another double dissolution trigger if it is rejected for a second time by the Senate, would be presented at the first opportunity in May, he says.

Such a tight timetable has raised talk that the government will bring forward the budget to May 3 to allow more time for this legislation to be debated, but the extra sitting days needed would have to be agreed by the Senate this week - flagging that an early election is on the cards.

But Senator Cormann, who is also the finance minister, insists the government is working towards a May 10 budget as scheduled.

The government is facing a hostile response from minor parties and some independent senators over the Senate voting reforms that could wipe them out in a double dissolution election, but the laws look like passing the upper house with the support of the Greens.

Family First Senator Bob Day says he will do all he can to prevent this bizarre "marriage" that would give the Greens the permanent balance of power.

"I will 'speak now or forever hold my peace' ... to stop this 'wedding'," he said in a statement on Monday.

He said he will go to the High Court if necessary on the grounds it ignores the wishes of three million voters who did not vote for big parties.


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Source: AAP



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