Truss says early poll could help

The government is still considering the idea of an early election, says retiring Nationals leader Warren Truss.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.

The government is still considering an early election, says retiring Nationals leader Warren Truss. (AAP)

An early election of the lower house and full Senate remains a possibility, outgoing Nationals leader Warren Truss says.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been weighing up whether to call a double dissolution election based on the failure to get laws to clean up union corruption through parliament.

One scenario could involve a July election, which would need to be called in early May.

Mr Truss, who announced on Thursday he would retire at the next election, said a double dissolution election made sense.

"It's obvious the government is having great difficulty getting its legislative program through the parliament," Mr Truss told reporters in Canberra.

He said there was a chance the government would get a "more workable" Senate and it would bring senators' terms better in line with those of lower house MPs.


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Source: AAP



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