The government used to be quite cosy with independent ACT senator David Pocock. That was back at the start, when it needed his vote.

In its second term, Labor only requires the Greens or the Coalition to pass contested legislation in the upper house. Now, Pocock has become an irritant for Labor, as he and other crossbenchers need to demonstrate their relevance in changed circumstances.

Pocock is calling out the government's gross lack of transparency. "When the numbers were crunched on the last parliament, they were more secretive than the Morrison government," he says, describing this as "one of the most secretive governments in the last 30 years".

On Wednesday, Pocock led a spectacular revolt that united, in a rare display, the Coalition, Greens and other crossbenchers.

The immediate

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