So we can’t discuss Senate strategies and scenarios? It distresses a few zealots? Poor petals! They should just stick with reading party political press releases – nothing that requires them to think for themselves.

Whether or not they like it, there is a major Senate preference debate raging in the ALP. What would be best for a Rudd government?

There’s a certain amount of realpolitik involved. As Crikey has been reporting for many months now, many Labor people are happy to push for a tactical Green vote in the ACT in an attempt to remove Liberal Senator Gary Humphries and end the Coalition’s control of Senate as soon as possible.

After that, though, Labor wants to be able to deal. They want flexibility. That requires an ability to move left and right.

There are currently four Greens in the Senate. Two are up for election. It’s most unlikely that Bob Brown will lose his slot. Kerry Nettle’s position is another matter. But whatever the case, after the next election there will be at least three Green Senators forming a bloc on the left that a Rudd government could at least attempt to negotiate with.

It may be harder for them to find room to move on the right – which is why Family First is important. A defeated Coalition is likely to be sulky and obstructive, particularly to begin with.

Family First, however, has shown a willingness to play ball. Steve Fielding has already come to the Howard Government’s rescue when Barnaby Joyce has withheld his vote, on the media laws and student unionism. No doubt he’d be prepared to do something similar for Labor – if the occasion (and the price) was right.

This isn’t anything new. It’s basic Senate realpolitik, part of the wheeling and dealing that takes place to negotiate the passage of political agendas.

It’s very rare for a government to have control of the Senate. Political parties always like to keep their options open.

If senior Labor figures are already working out their ministerial staffs, they’ll be paying even more attention to how they’ll steer their legislative agendas through the parliament – whether naïve or ignorant Crikey readers like it or not.