The Sydney Morning Herald
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has suffered a humiliating defeat in parliament on
refugee medical transfers in a rout not seen by any government in decades,
sparking an incendiary debate on border protection and questions about an early
election.
The Age
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten secured the support of the Greens and crossbench MPs to overpower the government on the floor of the House of Representatives and pass the legislation over Mr Morrison’s objections.
The government lost a series of votes by 74 to 75 in a defeat on significant legislation that has not occurred in federal Parliament since 1941, leaving the Prime Minister exposed to demands he call an election.
Mr Morrison said the outcome could not be "contorted" into a vote of no confidence in the government and the election would be in May, after the April 2 budget.
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The Australian
Scott Morrison has declared every new people-smuggling boat arrival will be "on
Bill Shorten's head" after the coalition lost control of the parliament,
allowing Labor to join the Greens and independents to push through a bill that
hands doctors greater powers to bring asylum seekers to Australia.
Labor's national security credentials will be tested further today when
parliament's intelligence and security committee is expected to green-light the
government's proposed new laws to make it easier to strip dual-national
terrorists of Australian citizenship.
The Daily Telegraph
Kerryn Phelps was all smiles after consigning the Morrison government to a
historic loss on the floor of the House of Representatives with Labor's full
backing. The 75-74 passing of the bill to medevac asylum seekers to Australia
sets up a defining election contest between Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader
Bill Shorten over border security.
