THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF MALCOLM TURNBULL
2016
JULY
* The coalition scrapes back into power with a one-seat majority, scoring 50.4 per cent of the two-party vote.
NOVEMBER
* Proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite is defeated in the Senate.
* Government restores the building industry watchdog
DECEMBER
* Government passes controversial backpacker tax.
2017
JANUARY
* Turnbull reshuffles cabinet after an expenses scandal forces the resignation of health minister Sussan Ley.
FEBRUARY
* PM hoses down reports he was berated by US President Donald Trump over a refugee swap deal.
* Cory Bernardi quits the Liberals to start his own Australian Conservatives party
MARCH
* Small business tax cuts pass parliament, but broader plan stalls.
APRIL
* Turnbull unveils plans to make it harder to become an Australian citizen.
MAY
* Treasurer Scott Morrison hands down his second budget, announcing a gradual thaw of the Medicare rebate freeze that almost cost Turnbull the election.
JUNE
* New bank levy clears parliament.
* Turnbull responds to Chief Scientist Alan Finkel's review of the energy market with new rules to restrict gas exports and a plan to scrap a process that allows power companies to raise prices.
* Major school funding overhaul, aka Gonski 2.0, clears parliament with crossbench support.
JULY
* Citizenship debacle begins with Greens senator Scott Ludlam resigning. Coalition two-party position slips to 45 per cent.
AUGUST
* Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in parliament. Attorney-General George Brandis describes it as an "appalling thing to do".
SEPTEMBER
* Cabinet minister Fiona Nash and crossbencher Nick Xenophon referred to the High Court over their dual citizenship.
OCTOBER
* The High Court boots Barnaby Joyce from parliament because of his dual New Zealand citizenship, while federal minister Matt Canavan and Nick Xenophon can remain.
NOVEMBER
* 61.6 per cent of Australians say yes to same-sex marriage in a postal survey.
* Turnbull announces a royal commission into misconduct in the financial sector.
DECEMBER
* Barnaby Joyce wins by-election and tells parliament that he is separated.
* Same-sex marriage is legalised after new laws clear federal parliament.
* Labor senator Sam Dastyari quits parliament over his Chinese donor connections
2018
JANUARY
* Turnbull pledges a year of "rewards" for Australians after two years of economic reforms.
FEBRUARY
* After news of his affair with a former staffer breaks in the media, Barnaby Joyce resigns as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader.
MARCH
* Turnbull says Liberal win in South Australian election is an endorsement of the government's energy plan.
APRIL
* Turnbull loses his 30th consecutive Newspoll and shrugs it off as ministers rally around him
MAY
* Katy Gallagher case in the High Court leads to more citizenship resignations, this time on the Labor side and crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie.
JUNE
* The government's $144 billion personal income tax cut plan passes parliament.
JULY
* A "super Saturday" of five by-elections brings no wins for the government, with four seats returning to Labor and one crossbench MP.
AUGUST
* Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott speak out over the direction of the government.
* Malcolm Turnbull defeats Peter Dutton 48-35 in a party room leadership ballot. Dutton resigns from frontbench.
