The federal government has slammed Labor for rejecting a request to “pair” votes in the new parliament.
In a move which could strike another blow to the government’s narrow one-seat majority, the opposition says it won’t enter into an arrangement to pair votes because of the Coalition’s confidence it enjoys a working majority.
Under the arrangement, a Labor MP would abstain from voting if a Coalition member is unable to due to political commitments or illness.
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke says Labor was taking Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at his word that the government had a working majority.
The opposition was only following the usual conventions for each party granting leave to its own MPs.
“People have asked Malcolm Turnbull if the new parliament is like the hung parliament and he has said it isn’t,” Mr Burke told AAP in a statement.
“If Malcolm Turnbull believes for some reason the government is less stable than he has claimed, he should say so publicly.”
Leader of the House Christopher Pyne accused Labor of double standards, saying the opposition enjoyed pairing for sick MPs in the Gillard minority government.
In the 43rd Parliament the Coalition ALWAYS paired ill MPs or MPs facing family emergencies. #auspol #45thParliament
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) August 16, 2016
I trust the media will slam @billshortenmp for his refusal to grant pairs to an MP who may be in hospital or facing a family crisis #auspol
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) August 16, 2016
Labor's double standard – employees in every workplace other than the Parliament should have rights to sick leave and family leave #auspol
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) August 16, 2016
Labor received pairs for sick MPs and family leave in the 43rd Parliament – just ask @AlboMP Bill Shorten should take a leaf from his book.
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) August 16, 2016
Do @tanya_plibersek and @KateEllisMP condone denying mothers of sick children the chance to care for their families in an emergency #auspol
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) August 16, 2016
Shorten talks a big game on family friendly work places. He just didn't mean it. Reminds me of how the Cleanevent workers were represented.
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) August 16, 2016
-AAP
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