Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced a bill on electoral reform on Monday Feb 22,2016, signalling a potential dissolution of parliament and an early election to break political deadlock
Independent and minor party senators elected at the last election in 2013 have continuously stalled key aspects of the government's agenda, including changes that would make higher education and health care more expensive and limit access to welfare.
The proposed reforms, making it harder for smaller parties to enter parliament through vote sharing deals, are seen as necessary for the government to dissolve both houses of parliament and call an election
The changes will likely anger independent and minor party members of the senate, which the government relies on to pass legislation opposed by the opposition, meaning Malcolm Turnbull may rush to an early election to avoid a long period of parliamentary stagnation.
A double-dissolution election is rarely used in Australia and allows for snap elections for all the seats in both houses to break an impasse.
The earliest a double-dissolution election could be held is in June. However Mr Turnbull has said on Monday he plans to hold an regular election in September or October.
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