Senate

[uopa]

A RUDD government faces the prospect of an unruly Senate, with the
real chance that it will have to depend not only on the Greens but
also on independents to pass legislation.

While the Coalition is expected to lose its Senate majority, it could
still retain the numbers to block legislation with support from Family
First and the new independent senator, Nick Xenophon.

The Coalition is tipped to lose two Senate seats, reducing its numbers
to 37 in the 76-seat chamber, and Labor is expected to gain four,
giving it 32 seats, according to the forecasts of the ABC's poll
computer.

Under current predictions, the Greens will have a net gain of one seat
to five seats. Family First will be left with just one member, having
failed to win significant backing in this poll.

Labor has won an overall 5.7 per cent swing in support to claim 40 per
cent of the Senate