"let alone the Clive Palmer spectre now lurking in the foreground"
The other day I watched the Richo & Jones interview with Clive Palmer on Sky (see link below).
For some reason, both Richo and Alan Jones were very complimentary about his ability. If you listen to his (Clive's) rhetoric he is very short on complete answers to the point that he is on the edge of delusional. His grasp of maths and economic behaviour/activity leaves you wondering what planet he lives on. Populist motherhood statements seem to be the extent of his vision for Australia. His views on debt are revenue creation are quite childish!
I actually think that the Liberals will go for a DD Election if the ALP does not come to the party on legislation and that in a subtle way they are in the process of placing the cards on the table.
The RC will enlighten a lot of voters as to the activities of the Unions and ALP and an "election campaign" will focus people on what the future may hold under the various choices available to them. I'm not sure that the notion of being invaded with a boat a day is all that palatable given the current slaughter in the Middle East and the Child Kidnapping in Africa to mention but a few of the unsavoury issues floating around the media.
As you said above:
"elections are held only after a minimum five-week campaign where Labor and the Greens will be massively outspent by the Liberal and Nationals parties,"
The winners from a DD will be the Liberals and PUP (because their are always voters that lap up the vision splendid) with not much change for the Rusted on Greens. However the ALP may not be able to survive.
Given the ALP's propensity to "whore itself" I believe they will fold under pressure from the Liberals. Still they are the thickest bricks on the pallet so who knows, they may just follow through on their death wish.
