Gov't defeated on housing bill in Senate, Australia may see early polls

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Australian federal government on Monday faced a defeat in Senate when the lawmakers rejected Labor's housing policy.

As a result, the government will have to wait for three months before reintroducing the Housing Australia Future Fund bill, which aims to establish a $10 billion fund for the construction of social and affordable housing.

This defeat also sets the stage for a tense confrontation between Labor and the Greens, potentially giving the government the option to dissolve the parliament and call for an early election.

Labor's deputy Senate leader, Don Farrell, warned that if the Senate postpones the bills until October, it would be seen as a failure to pass the bill, implying severe consequences, ABC News reported.

Despite the government's desire for an immediate vote, the Greens and Coalition successfully voted to defer the matter until October.

Australia has seen six changes of prime minister in the past 12 years. The political instability in one of the world’s oldest democracies is ascribed to internal party fights.

The Labor Party stormed to power in Australia after almost a decade in last month's elections.

It has almost secured 78 of the 151 seats up for grabs, while Morrison’s Liberal/National Coalition won 51. A party needs 76 seats to form the government.

Federal elections are held every three years in Australia.