The PM had a number of big wins this sitting week, the last before MPs and senators return in May for Budget week.

But it’s his signature housing affordability policy that’s still being held to ransom by the Greens, with the balance of power party refusing to deal with it in the Senate until May.

That and more in this week’s Parliament wrap.

Bowen’s climate win

On Monday, the House of Representatives passed the government’s safeguard mechanism bill after Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen clinched a deal with the Greens’ Adam Bandt.

Both the government and the Greens claimed the win, although Bandt had failed to secure a commitment from the government to ban future coal and gas developments.

The government did, however, give ground on emissions targets – with the legislation amended to include a ‘hard cap’ on emissions that the Greens claim will limit future investment from coal and gas companies in Australia.

The Greens’ support of Labor’s climate policy came after former leader Bob Brown urged the party not to capitulate to the government and stand firm on it’s call to ban fossil fuel projects.

Manufacturing fund gets up, housing fund stalled

The government made much of it’s parliamentary triumph on passing the National Reconstruction Fund legislation this week, taking aim at the Coalition’s refusal to support the bill.

The passage of the referendum machinery provisions bill last week paved the way for the next step – the introduction into the House yesterday of the bill proposing the referendum’s terms.

The Coalition is still yet to announce a formal position on the Voice, as it used Question Time this week to highlight it’s concerns over the advisory body’s remit.

Despite its big wins in the Senate this week, the government is still facing the possibility of a parliamentary defeat over it’s signature housing fund.

The Greens and key crossbencher David Pocock are yet to support the legislation, refusing to deal with it in the Senate this week.

Labor is under pressure to deal with an escalating housing affordability crisis, in the context of rate rises and rising inflation.

Majority still eludes Chris Minns in New South Wales

As widely expected, Labor emphatically defeated the Coalition in New South Wales on the weekend although an expected majority is yet to materialise nearly a week after counting began.

On Saturday night it was predicted new Premier Chris Minns would count as many as 50 seats in the new Parliament but hopes of a strong Labor majority began to fade this week as pre-polls were counted.

Minns has secured the support of three independents should he need them, avoiding a messy coalition deal with the Greens. At the latest counting, Labor remains stuck on 46 seats, just one shy of the 47 needed for majority government.

Aston by-election looms as leadership test for Dutton

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton told his party room this week that victory in the inner Melbourne seat was far from assured, as he downplayed the importance of the result on his leadership credentials.

The Prime Minister was urging voters to get to the polls tomorrow, as early voting numbers indicate polling attendance was well down compared to last year’s federal election.

The Liberals are expecting a narrow victory, but Labor will weaponise any swing away from the party as a reflection on Dutton’s leadership.