By Jeremy Thompson and Ben Atherton
Updated November 24, 2011 14:15:22
A desperate Opposition rearguard action failed to stop renegade LNP MP Peter Slipper from being installed as Speaker of the House of Representatives in a stunning Labor coup today.
A day of extraordinary political drama began when Labor Speaker Harry Jenkins announced his resignation.
The move pitched Mr Slipper into the spotlight, with the Labor Caucus wasting little time in nominating him for the Speaker's role - a move which will effectively give Labor one more seat in the House of Reps and lessen its reliance on independent and Greens MPs.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott hit back by threatening to throw Mr Slipper out of the party if he accepted the job.
The vote to install Mr Slipper was scheduled for 12:30pm AEDT and Mr Slipper announced that he would accept Labor's nomination - effectively casting himself into the political wilderness and guaranteeing his expulsion from the Liberal ranks.
What the Speaker switch means
- the Government has a stronger position on votes in the House of Representatives
- to pass legislation, Labor now only needs three instead of four votes out of Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie, Adam Bandt, Bob Katter and Tony Crook
But manager of Opposition business Christopher Pyne stepped up to nominate a succession of Labor MPs for the job instead.
All declined; Anna Burke, Dick Adams, Sid Sidebottom, Sharon Bird, Kirsten Livermore, Steve Georganas ... the list went on.
Finally Mr Pyne gave up the unequal task and Mr Slipper's election to the Speaker's role was confirmed.
In remarks to the House, Mr Slipper confirmed he would be an independent Speaker in the Westminster tradition and would relinquish his membership of the LNP.
Ms Burke, the Member for Chisholm, was later elected Deputy Speaker, defeating Bruce Scott 72 votes to 71.
Mr Scott, the LNP Member for Maranoa, was nominated by the Opposition, which suggested that if Ms Burke declined the role of Speaker she would not be suitable for the deputy's role.
In May 2011, Mr Jenkins said he would have to consider his position after one of his rulings was defeated.
However, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott promptly put forward a confidence motion in Mr Jenkins, which was passed.
Coup
It is understood the Government had been negotiating with Mr Slipper for some weeks, deliberations that were kept secret, and surprised his former colleagues today.
The coup strengthens the Government's position in the Lower House and means independent MP Andrew Wilkie will not be able to carry out his threat to bring down the Government should his bill on poker machine reform be defeated.
Mr Slipper's political future had already been under a cloud, with calls in Queensland's Liberal National Party for him to be sacked over a series of internal and ongoing disputes.
He angered party bosses by appearing with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on the same day former prime minister John Howard was launching an LNP candidate's campaign.
Reports had indicated he was unlikely to retain pre-selection for his Queensland seat of Fisher.
Related Story: Parliament in turmoil as Speaker resigns
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Deal with renegade Liberal boosts Labor's numbers - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
