Turnbull's New Senate. The Magnificent 11.

And then there were 20. Yes 20 Senators who are not from major parties.

The Double Dissolution has effectively increased the number of non-Green crossbenchers from 8 to 11. Pulling the DD trigger has also substantially weakened the Government’s position in the House of Representatives forfeiting the majority of the gains secured by Tony Abbott in 2013.

The 2016 election has delivered a weakened Prime Minister with limited authority to govern, an unsettled and diminished party-room and arguably the most diverse and challenging Senate ever.

Key points:

• The Senate comprises 76 seats (12 from each state and two from each territory).
• The government must gain the support of at least 39 senators to pass legislation.
• There are now 11 other crossbench senators from six different parties.
• The Coalition has 30 Senators.
• Labor has 26.
• There are still 9 Greens.

The Turnbull government will require the support of at least nine non-Green votes from the crossbench if Labor and the Greens oppose legislation.

If ever there was an exciting time to be Prime Minister it is now. Turnbull will have to pick his battles and be bold. Elaborating on the Government’s agenda should be the first step to fill in the colour behind the jobs and growth slogan. His new ministerial line-up included limited changes to confirm Turnbull’s pledge to deliver stable government. Eventually the horse will have to bolt from the stable. Opinion Polls and commentators are unlikely to be kind to any sense of prolonged vacillation or indecision. The tedious nature of the marathon election campaign tested everyone’s patience.

The Senate outcome is in part is a result of the new voting system combined with previously unmatched disillusion with the major parties.  The group voting ticket was abolished, and voters were able to send their preferences more directly to their favoured candidates. This had a significant impact on the re-emergence of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Despite having some considerable national support in 1998, the major parties preferenced One Nation last. But, as the Senate had changed its voting system, One Nation in 2016 was no longer dependent on preference deals to the same extent.

So, are the people sitting on the Senate crossbench and what role will they play in the 45th parliament?

The Greens

The Greens lost one seat but continue to hold the largest bloc on the crossbench, with nine seats. The government may pass its legislation if it can get the Greens’ support.

This will be a challenge given the Greens’ policy agenda is centered on conservation and socially progressive aims.

While Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is sympathetic to some Green views he will have to balance this with views of the conservatives in the Coalition party room.

The Greens may be an important ally to the government, but they will not be supporting legislation that conflicts with their agenda.

Then again, the Greens will face some challenges of their own. Losing one seat and associated parliamentary resources means the party will be focusing on preparing to consolidate and expand in the Senate at the next election.

One Nation - Pauline Hanson

Twenty years and a string of failed political comebacks has preceded One Nation’s return.

Many commentators failed to consider or predict where the disillusioned Clive Palmer support would shift to, predominantly in Queensland, but also nationwide. 

One Nation had the third-highest primary vote in Queensland after the Liberal National Party and the Labor Party.

Perpetually an anti-establishment figure, Hanson maintains her concerns about race and migration. She also promotes a broadly protectionist set of economic policies.

The One Nation party of 2016 has also expressed greater concern about religion and climate change than it did in the 1990s.

Hanson must balance unity and independent thought and has already flagged that her party’s senators are free to vote against the party when they see fit, making negotiations for the government even more complicated. It will not be able to count on the party to vote as a bloc. 

Nick Xenophon Team

A big winner of this election is Nick Xenophon and his new political party, which claimed three Senate seats.

The Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) has a mix of protectionist economic and socially progressive policies. Part of its appeal has been its focus on enhancing government accountability and promoting manufacturing in Australia.

While Xenophon himself has been vocal on these topics, as well as his long-term concern about predatory gambling, the challenge will now be to make a legislative impact in these areas. If voters get a sense that his party has been unable to fulfil its promises, they may choose to give their votes to someone else next time.

Jacqui Lambie Network

Jacqui Lambie, who was elected in 2013 as a Palmer United Party candidate in Tasmania, also created a new party and will be returning to the Senate.

Presenting herself as a strong advocate for her state, Lambie built a high public profile by positioning herself as an anti-establishment figure.

Concerns about protecting jobs and the provision of government services dominated her campaign, as did her opposition to sharia law supposedly being imposed in Australia.

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party

Derryn Hinch will be in the Senate representing Victoria. He has a high public profile as a controversial journalist and will advocate for reforms to a suite of law-and-order issues.

Hinch has for many years called for a public register of convicted sex offenders. His party also seeks to reform matters concerning sentencing and parole, as well as domestic violence.

The party is also in favour of voluntary euthanasia. This spread of policies will allow Hinch to transcend any sense of rigid party politics in the Senate.

Bob Day – Family First

Bob Day will return to the Senate representing Family First. His party advances socially conservative policies, including a desire to ensure same-sex marriage does not become a reality in Australia.

Maintaining the idea that a nuclear family is best, as well as opposing liberal social policies, will be at the core of Family First’s focus.

David Leyonhjelm – Liberal Democrats

 Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm will return to pursue policies that limit government power. As a libertarian, Leyonhjelm will oscillate from being friend and foe for the government. His reported opposition to some government services may be in line with the Coalition’s. But his support for legalising same-sex marriage will be troublesome for some in the government.

Bob Katter – In the other Chamber

Bob Katter will continue to have a voice, through Nick Xenophon, and his views will be taken more seriously given the tightness of numbers in the House of Representatives.

As he warned on 6 July,

"You try running a government with one vote up your sleeve," he said.

"Don't have your mother die because you can't go to the funeral, don't go to the bathroom.”

Katter was elected as a Nationals MP to federal Parliament in 1993, until he left to become an independent in 2001, having started in Queensland Parliament in 1974.

First Tests

The first test will be to pass as much of the Morrison May Budget through the Senate as possible. Foreign investment and the national interest will continue to be a hot issue for the crossbench. Balancing foreign direct investment from places like China with the need to stimulate Australian jobs.

The double-dissolution election has coughed up a wider range of parties and policy demands than before in a manner of which Picasso would be proud. The government will need to have strong working relationships with the crossbench to have any chance of getting their support.

Policy that is seen to be ideologically driven will have s limited chance of passing. Major reforms will require much careful negotiation and an acceptance that compromise will be inevitable.

The composition of the Senate means the government’s team, especially Senate leader George Brandis, will have to work extremely hard to negotiate their way through the disparate policy demands.

The 45th Parliament commenced sitting on 30 August.