Family First senator Steve Fielding has suggested that Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen is so convinced it will work he can test it in his own home state first. But another key crossbench senator, independent Nick Xenophon, says FuelWatch’s 24-hour rule is a “dead parrot” that cannot be fixed.

The Australian: Kevin Rudd accused the Coalition of siding with big oil companies over the FuelWatch scheme today, as the Government conceded it was prepared to “listen” to key senators to secure support.
Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen extended an olive branch to crossbench senators over FuelWatch, admitting the Government would accept legislative amendments after it became [...]

The Government needs the support of the Greens and senators Fielding and Xenophon to get its legislation through the upper house. “We’re still wanting to understand how it won’t push petrol prices … up and we also want to know how FuelWatch won’t squeeze out independents,” said Senator Fielding.

When Parliament resumes next month it will be a brave new world for the Government and the Opposition. The Liberal-National Coalition no longer has a Senate majority. But that’s not necessarily good news for the Government either. The Coalition needs the support of two other senators to amend legislation and just one to block it. Labor, meanwhile, needs either the Coalition or the Greens and both Xenophon and Fielding.