What we're expecting to see in the first week of the 45th federal parliament
The 45th Federal Parliament
- Parliament meets for the first time since the July 2 election on Tuesday when all 150 lower house MPs and 76 senators are sworn into office.
- The Turnbull government goes into the new parliament with a one-seat majority in the lower house and a nine-set deficit in the Senate.
- Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove will outline the government's agenda in a speech to a joint sitting of both houses at 3pm.
- The real business of parliament begins on Wednesday when the government introduces its first pieces of legislation.
What's on the agenda?
- The government introduces legislation striking out any parts of enterprise agreements which interfere with the ability of an emergency services organisation - such as the Country Fire Authority - to manage and promote its volunteers.
- Legislation for government's promised company tax cuts: the first tranche for those with annual turnover up to $10 million.
- Legislation for various other May budget measures.
- Government omnibus bill containing $6.5 billion in budget savings measures agreed to by Labor during the election campaign.
- Push by non-government parties for a Senate inquiry into allegations of abuse of asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru.
- Nick Xenophon, Greens and Labor want a Senate inquiry into the Census night debacle.
- Conservative Liberal senator Cory Bernardi plans to introduce a private bill that changes hate-speech laws in the Racial Discrimination Act.
What both sides want to spin
- The coalition: It has an agenda for the next three years, despite having a one-seat majority in the lower house and none at all in the Senate.
- Labor: It's only been two months since the election and already the government is looking a shambles.
What they're saying
- Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: "One way or another, at the end of this 45th parliament, I want Australians to be able to say that this parliament ... has come to terms with the budgetary challenge we face."
- Opposition Leader Bill Shorten: "Co-operation is a two-way street. Bullying people is not the way to get co-operation, it's compromise, it is working with people rather than always lecturing them.'
- Manager of government business Christopher Pyne: "Mr Shorten wants to engage in petty politics every day, Malcolm Turnbull and his team want to get on with growing the economy."
- Manager of opposition business in the Senate Sam Dastyari: "This is not a government that is going to last three years. I would be surprised if it lasts more than 18 months the way things are heading at the moment."
