Charlie Pickering Points Out The Flaws In Malcolm Turnbull’s Double Dissolution On ‘The Weekly’

There’s exactly 100 days until the double dissolution election on July 2 — a three-month period of relentless campaigning, frothing media coverage and all-round deep unpleasantness culminating in a decidedly uninspiring choice between Malcolm “Continuity With Change” Turnbull and Bill “Regular Bloke” Shorten. It’s like picking who to do a group assignment with — every choice is terrible.

Earlier this week Turnbull announced he was forcing the Senate to choose between passing a controversial bill that could strip construction workers of basic rights or face a double dissolution election that could cost them their jobs. Turnbull’s move was hailed as a clever (if cynical) bit of politicking by many media outlets; a way of seizing back the agenda after months of rolling over on everything from marriage equality to Safe Schools to tax reform.

But as The Weekly‘s Charlie Pickering explains, it could all end up blowing up in the PM’s face. Double dissolutions are risky for everybody; while most of the crossbench Senators might not have a job come July 3, the government might wind up with a Senate that’s even more difficult to work with than the current one. Even worse, a three-month election campaign with a rushed budget announcement smack in the middle could put the already-apparent failings of the Turnbull government under a much harsher spotlight.

If you’re already sick of election coverage, just think how you’ll be in two month’s time when things really start ramping up. Maybe go live in a cave for a while. Get some air.