THE federal government is on the brink of achieving a second trigger for a double-dissolution election, but faces pressure on multiple fronts as Parliament resumes today.
The Senate is poised to reject legislation means testing the private health insurance rebate - shifting the political debate to health before a major government policy announcement on hospital reform in March.
But the government is unlikely to make a clean break from issues currently causing it significant political grief.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett will face a renewed parliamentary assault over his bungling of the $2.45 billion insulation scheme, and other programs within his portfolio.
His officials will be asked to explain before a Senate committee why the government failed to shut down the insulation scheme after an explicit warning from a top-tier legal firm last April highlighting the safety risks.
The opposition is also expected to use this week's sitting to highlight the government's recent decision to switch political gears.
The government has forced the Senate debate on health this week rather than fight the resurgent opposition on its emissions trading legislation.
Public support for an emissions trading scheme has taken a hit after the failure of the Copenhagen climate change conference and a populist campaign against the scheme lead by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Controversy also continues to bubble around the government's decision to hand the free-to-air television networks a $250 million reduction in licence fees.
Some cross-bench senators have now joined the opposition in querying the handout, which could be disallowed by the Senate.
The Senate is also expected to consider contentious legislation tightening youth allowance if scheduling permits.
The Senate debate on the private insurance rebate is expected to go for days. The failure of the legislation would cost the budget nearly $2 million.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Mr Abbott were lying low yesterday, preparing for the resumption of parliamentary hostilities in Canberra.
A decisive outcome on the health insurance rebate allows government strategists more options to consider the timing and the terrain of the federal election.
The government has the option of calling a double-dissolution election until mid-October.
The advantage of calling such a poll is that the government, if it was returned to office, can have previously blocked legislation considered at a joint sitting of both houses.
While the government is busily bagging triggers for a double-dissolution election, Mr Rudd has signalled repeatedly that he favours going to the people in the second half of this year.
So even if he ultimately pulls the double-dissolution trigger, it is very unlikely that Australians will go to the polls early.
Recent opinion polls suggest that Mr Abbott has made a solid start as Opposition Leader.
The government will be looking to continue its attacks on Mr Abbott this week to blunt the Liberal leader's momentum.
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