73-72: government loses first vote in house with pregnant Plibersek absent

[depakid]

Federal Parliament has passed a package of changes to its own rules and procedures, but only after the government lost its first vote, with pregnant Labor minister Tanya Plibersek absent from the chamber.

Ironically, a division over how to deal with divisions in which an MP inadvertently misses a vote was won by the opposition by a single vote.

However, the rest of a package of changes, which the government proclaimed "a great day for parliamentary reform", was passed without controversy.

The opposition, while supporting most of the measures, successfully amended an aspect that could be crucial in a Parliament of knife-edge numbers.

Manager of opposition business Christopher Pyne said the government had reneged on an agreement to hold a debate on a vote being held again if a member inadvertently missed the first vote.

Mr Pyne moved an amendment to the package to require a debate to suspend standing orders so the house could decide if the missed vote was genuine misadventure.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/national/7372-government-loses-first-vote-in-house-with--pregnant-plibersek-absent-20100929-15wqn.html

I have a feeling that we're in for some interesting times in Canberra for the next couple of years.

[Matilda]

1. At least the loss was due to the Independents (Oakeshott, Windsor)

voting with the Coalition, and not because the Opposition refused to provide a pair for Tanya Plibersek. I bet they'd have liked to refuse, but they'd have had the women's lobby to answer to on that one.

Amusing that the one pollie who was late for Question Time was Bob Katter - I bet if it was a vote, the Opposition would be using cattle prods to get him there on time, or they'd pay the price for their own intransigence.

[depakid]

2. Katter's unreliable in more ways than one

His vote was one of those which elevated Slippery Pete to Deputy Speaker.

[Matilda]

3. And meanwhile, a Liberal MP says that a death could see the Coalition take power.

Federal Liberal MP Don Randall said in Parliament today:

"We're only one death, one desertion and one sickness away from the ability to change the composure of this House," he said.

"We'll be doing our best to keep this Government to account and if that opportunity arises it'll be fantastic."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/30/3026131.htm?section=justin


Apparently he's never heard the expression "tempting fate". If one of their number dies, they'll be well and truly f****d.

What an ugly lot they are.