Liberal MP elected as deputy Speaker

Labor and Coalition MPs have undertaken a secret ballot to determine who will become deputy Speaker, a position of particular interest in a minority government due to pairing arrangements.

The ALP put forward Liberal MP Peter Slipper for the position, and the Coalition put forward Nationals MP Bruce Scott.

Mr Slipper won the ballot 78 votes to Mr Scott's 71.

The deputy Speaker post normally goes to the government, but with the numbers tight in the hung parliament, Labor is hoping a Coalition MP will take the job to potentially take a deliberative vote off the Opposition.

Labor's Harry Jenkins was elected unopposed for a second term as Speaker earlier this morning.