The coalition has used its numbers in parliament to shut down an attempt by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to censure the Abbott government over jobs.
The government moved quickly to gag Mr Shorten as he tried to argue the case for a censure motion.
He wanted parliament to censure Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey for leading a job-destroying government which he said was intent on blaming employees.
Mr Abbott had failed to lead a government united in supporting Australian jobs and had no plan for creating employment.
Mr Shorten also took aim at the treasurer, accusing him of goading car maker Holden out of Australia and giving false accounts of his private discussions with Toyota.
As well, he had blamed workers for his failure to fight for Australian jobs.
Toyota and Mr Hockey are at odds over whether workers' conditions and unions are to blame for the company deciding to pull out of car production in Australia in 2017.
The government also gagged shadow treasurer Chris Bowen before he could fully take up the opposition's case.
