The first day of the DeathStar.

Not one piece of legislation was considered yesterday in the Senate. Not one. From 12.30PM to approximately 8PM, the Government with all its numbers and all its practical ability to ram whatever through the Senate whenever it likes, could not even bring about a debate on legislation.

This leads me to the conclusion that things will be more difficult for the Government than is sometimes made out. If the Government whips out teh big stick, they play into the hands of the ALP and minors who have happily (but not at all disingenuously) cultivated an impression that a Senate majority is dangerous for democracy.

For an example, we need to look at why the delays came about yesterday. There were several hours while instead of debating legislation an extensive debate about whether or not it is right of the Government to have re-allocated questions during Question Time to give themselves 66 more "Dorothy Dix" questions. This followed an announcement by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Robert Hill, that the function of the Estimates Committees* would be curtailed.

While the Government could have simply gagged the debate (they've got the numbers to simply vote that any debate be guillotined and that the question be put) it would have been political suicide to not only be seen to be canning the major avenue of forensic examination of Government action and reducing the most public avenue for the Opposition to apply scrutiny to the Government but also to be pulling out the 39 vote big stick...

There's a certain length the Government will tend to be unwilling to stretch to simply because they'll come off looking thuggish, over the top and intolerant of dissent. All of which they are, but none of which is it helpful to appear to be!

This may happen a bit this term. The Government may well be a little nervous about exercising its new powers to avoid putting off the public and even its more nervous or independently minded backbenchers.

The Government may even find this new weapon has a bit of a kick to it. Use it to its full potential and you start to hurt yourself, fail to use it to the full and you get belted for being weak.

I think they're going to get stuffed a few times. We know they'll get through some ugly legislation. We know they'll abuse their powers. The question lies in how much they hurt themselves on the way through. I'm hoping they cop a bruising or ten.

* Estimates Committees are the avenue for Opposition parties to scrutinise Government expenditure etc., and which have uncovered many scandals and problems for the Government in the past.