Greek Australian Senator Nick Xenophon is tipped to become one of the most powerful Australian politicians after the next federal elections.
The double dissolution spill of all 76 Senate seats will hand Nick Xenophon the balance of power, according to an AFR report.
According to the report, despite Coalition hopes of annihilating the crossbench following the government’s Senate electoral law changes, the same pundits are also predicting Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus have a good chance of being returned.
However, ABC election analyst Antony Green predicts the South Australian Nick Xenophon Team rather than the Greens will hold the balance of power.
Veteran Labor Senator Kim Carr agreed, saying he believes Senator Xenophon could pick up at least three spots.
Senator Xenophon won 24.9 per cent of the vote in the 2013 South Australia Senate election.
Senator Xenophon believes a double dissolution was likely because the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill had a “one in 20 chance” of getting passed.
