Labor defies Parliamentary vote

The Gillard Government has failed to abide by a motion requiring them to abandon the Malaysian people swap, in defiance of the will of the Parliament, Christopher Pyne, Manager of Opposition Business said today.

"It is remarkable that a motion condemning the Government has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate," Mr Pyne said.

"This is further evidence that the Government is traducing the Westminster system of Government by defying the will of both the Senate and the House of Representatives," he said.

It also shows that on crucial policy matters the Government cannot rely on their Parliamentary numbers and that the Leader of the House, Anthony Albanese, has lost control.

After the Prime Minister expressly refused to accept the majority will of the Parliament to condemn and reject the Malaysian people swap, the Leader of the Opposition moved a suspension of Standing Orders to Censure the Prime Minister.

"While Parliamentary Standing Orders require an absolute majority of 76 to change Parliamentary proceedings, the Coalition achieved a moral victory, defeating the Government with a majority of 71 to 70," Mr Pyne said.

"If the Government cannot control the Parliament, it cannot run the country," he said.

In 1963, the Menzies minority government lost just four divisions in the House of Representatives over two years and Prime Minister Menzies called an election.

As of today, the Government has lost 16 votes in the House of Representatives.

When calling the election Robert Menzies said Australia needs: ''A government that can speak and act authoritatively on behalf of Australia. The nation is entitled to this and to choose unambiguously who shall speak for it.''

"The current Prime Minister has lost all authority. Ms Gillard should follow this historical precedent and call an election," Mr Pyne said.

June 16, 2011

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