<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334290</docID> <postdate>2024-11-29 11:28:34</postdate> <headline>Eye of political storm nears as focus turns to polls</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-334291" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241129179973248995-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The Albanese government has been buoyed by the passage of key bills in a lengthy Senate session. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By<strong> Kat Wong</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Labor is running victory laps around parliament after notching up some much-needed wins in the lead up to a federal election.</strong></p> <p>The Senate passed more than 30 bills after a marathon 14-hour sitting on Thursday, forcing MPs to return on Friday and rubber stamp the bills.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the legislation will improve lives.</p> <p>"We understand the pressure people are under," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.</p> <p>"My message is: we have your back."</p> <p>Labor passed key pieces of legislation including its Future Made in Australia clean energy incentives, and a social media ban for children younger than 16, which has attracted international attention.</p> <p>In total, the Senate passed 45 bills during the last parliamentary sitting week of the year.</p> <p>But the process has been criticised by the coalition and crossbench for rushing through procedure, placing excessive pressure on parliamentary staff and circumventing scrutiny.</p> <p>"What we saw in the Senate last night was a going out of business sale," Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told the Today show.</p> <p>"It was like everything was discounted – whatever it takes to clear the shelves."</p> <p>With both chambers adjourned for the year, the political front is expected to go quiet as parties prepare their campaign game plans.</p> <p>A federal election must be called by May 2025, though a date has not yet been set.</p> <p>Some have speculated the contest will be called early to avoid holding two budgets in year, which would mean politicians will not return to Canberra until after the election.</p> <p>But Mr Albanese has poured cold water on this theory as he expects to hold a parliamentary sitting in February.</p> <p>Polls have showed support for the government has deteriorated, and crossbenchers are hoping to take advantage of a potential minority government.</p> <p>"Experts are saying that is a very likely outcome... that puts an obligation on all of us to work together," Greens Leader Adam Bandt told ABC radio.</p> <p>"We've seen at the end of this parliament that where there's goodwill, there can be constructive negotiations, we can get things done that actually make a difference."</p> <p>For some, the knives are already out.</p> <p>Outgoing Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham urged voters to choose carefully.</p> <p>"Think about who you want to govern the country," he told Sky News.</p> <p>"I've seen lots of unpredictable, destructive behaviour that - all too often - comes from minor parties and crossbenchers."</p> <p>The long nights of bargaining with the Greens over housing and environment reforms also left a sour taste in Labor politicians' mouths, which they have tried to pass on to Australians.</p> <p>"The Australian people are sick of them blocking progressive reform rather than working with the government," cabinet minister Murray Watt told ABC.</p> <p>The government has ramped up its attack on the minor party after the Queensland election produced a poor result for the Greens, bolstering hopes of a Labor resurgence in the state at the 2025 contest.</p> <p>For now, Senator Watt says Labor is focusing on its February return.</p> <p>"We didn't manage to get every single bill through this week," he said.</p> <p>"We have more to do."</p> <p>https://citynews.com.au/2024/albanese-gets-down-and-dirty-deal-making-and-breaking/</p> </body>