Opposition has confidence in the Speaker

It is the Government's responsibility to maintain the numbers on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Leader of the House and the Government Whips manifestly failed to do so today, the Manager of Opposition Business, Christopher Pyne said.

"Today, the government failed in that basic requirement and as a consequence the Speaker's naming of a Member was defeated," Mr Pyne said.

"The precedent for such a defeat is that of Speaker Cope in 1975. On that occasion the Speaker was not supported by the House and he resigned," he said.

The Opposition quickly took the initiative to move that the House express its confidence in Speaker Jenkins following that defeat and that motion was carried unanimously.

"The Opposition has every confidence in the Speaker who does a difficult job in the unusual circumstances of a hung Parliament very well," Mr Pyne said.

May 31, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT:

Adam Howard

0400 414 833