The ABC's Chris Uhlmann said he's been told a deal is close to being sealed, and the name being suggested is the Coalition's Alex Somlyay.
Speculation is mounting after comments from Somlyay to ABC News Radio where, when asked if Labor had approached him, he answered "Not for the speaker's job", but has said he will comment to a greater extent later in the day.
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The government is planning on putting Jenkins in, but getting someone from the Coalition to agree to a pairing - which would be unsanctioned by the party - had been proving difficult.
If an MP has indeed been found, it would effectively preserve the government's two-seat majority.
Mr Abbott on Thursday revealed the Coalition would not accept proposed arrangements for the pairing of the Speaker on the grounds they were constitutionally unsound.
This infuriated the government, which said Abbott had back-flipped. Independents Tony Windsor, and today Bob Katter, criticised Mr Abbott for reneging on the agreement to have the speaker paired with an member of the Coalition during division.
