Quote
"That is because, the coalition senators would understand very clearly that the ALP had just won an election based on the industrial laws and it would be a very foolhardy liberal/ national group in the senate (if they still had a majority) that would be stupid enough to attempt to block a labor government's laws overturning the current industrial laws.
If they(LIB/NATT senators) were stupid enough to block amending laws, a NEW ALP GOVERNMENT WOULD SIMPLY USE THE DOUBLE DISSOLUTION PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION to threaten an election for the full senate anbd the house of representatives"
Eden,
But remember the Liberals have won the past 4 elections with what they would consider a mandate to change certain things - immigration laws, Telstra sale, GST, workplace act etc and they had the ALP block everything in the Senate. Despite what you say oppposition parties generally block the opposing side's legislation despite what has happened in a previous election. It has only been the last year of the new Senate that they have passed most of their legislation (except GST via a deal with the Democrats at the time). I think that if the ALP wins the next election and tries to overturn the Workplace laws, the coalition senators will oppose it - even if the ALP has a so called mandate from the populous. Double dissolutions are often threatened but very rarely used - just ask the current Liberal government.
Otherwise I agree with the first part of your post.
Have a nice day
