Rex Patrick says talks on welfare bill on hold after Marise Payne refused to answer ‘reasonable question’ in Senate estimatesThe Nick Xenophon Team has suspended critical negotiations on Senate legislation until the government commits to improving transparency and accountability measures. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Rex Patrick says negotiations on Alan Tudge’s welfare bill are on hold. Suspending negotiations does not mean that we will or will not vote for a particular legislation, it just makes it difficult or the government to ensure NXT are comfortable with legislation that is being put to the parliament. The party, founded by Nick Xenophon, who resigned from the Senate to run in the South Australian state election, currently controls two votes in the Senate. With the government lacking the numbers to control the Senate, NXT’s bloc vote can make or break the chances of legislation passing in the Senate.

Source: The Guardian December 21, 2017 05:15 UTC