Double dissolution triggers

A double dissolution occurs when the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, dissolves both the Senate and House of Representatives for an election to take place.

A double dissolution can only happen when there is a deadlock between the Senate and the House of Representatives on a bill. A double dissolution is the only time all senators stand for election at the same time.

If a bill is passed in the House of Representatives and does not pass twice in the Senate with 3 months between attempts, Parliament can be dissolved for an election to let voters decide on the outcome.

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Potential double dissolution triggers

48th Parliament (nil to date)
47th Parliament (nil)
46th Parliament (nil)

Bills that triggered the 2016 double dissolution (44^th Parliament)
Original bills and outcome in the 44^th Parliament	Subsequent bill and outcome in the 45^th Parliament
Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 HR bill – negatived at 2nd reading by the Senate on 17 August 2015 Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2] HR bill – identical to original bill – introduced on 2 February 2016 and passed on 4 February 2016; introduced by the Senate on 4 February 2016; lapsed due to prorogation on 17 April 2016; in response to request from the HR, the Senate resumed consideration on 18 April 2016; negatived at 2nd reading by the Senate on 18 April 2016	Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 HR bill – identical to original bills – introduced on 31 August 2016 and passed on 18 October 2016; introduced by the Senate on 7 November 2016
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 HR bill – negatived at 2nd reading by the Senate on 17 August 2015 Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 [No. 2] HR bill – identical to original bill – introduced on 2 February 2016 and passed on 4 February 2016; introduced by the Senate on 4 February 2016; lapsed due to prorogation on 17 April 2016; in response to request from the HR, the Senate resumed consideration on 18 April 2016; negatived at 2nd reading by the Senate on 18 April 2016	Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 HR bill – identical to original bills – introduced on 31 August 2016 and passed on 18 October 2016; introduced by the Senate on 7 November 2016
Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 HR bill – contained all provisions in the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2013 and updated year of citation – introduced by the HR on 19 June 2014; amended (9 Govt: identical to amendments circulated in the Senate by the government to the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2013) and passed by the HR on 15 July 2014; introduced by the Senate on 17 July 2014; negatived at 2nd reading by the Senate on 2 March 2015 Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 [No. 2] HR bill – identical to bill passed by the HR on 15 July 2014 – introduced on 19 March 2015 and passed on 25 June 2015; introduced by the Senate on 25 June 2015; negatived at 2nd reading by the Senate on 17 August 2015	Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 HR bill – identical to Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 [No. 2] – introduced on 31 August 2016 and passed on 19 October 2016; introduced by the Senate on 7 November 2016; amended (10 Govt; 9 NXT/DHJP; 21 DHJP/NXT) and passed by the Senate on 22 November 2016 a.m.; HR agreed to amendments on 22 November 2016

Double dissolution triggers

Potential double dissolution triggers

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