Parliament has elevated renegade Liberal backbencher Peter Slipper to the role of Speaker in the Lower House.
This gives the Gillard government one vote more, while taking one away from the Coalition.
Slipper replaces Harry Jenkins, and will be forced to leave the coalition after Liberal and Nationals MPs decided against one of their number standing for the vacant role.
Mr Slipper was first elected as a Nationals MP in 1984, serving until 1987. But he later defected to the Liberals, for whom he's served seven terms: He's held the Queensland seat of Fisher for since 1993.
Slipper said he'd resign from Queensland's Liberal National Party, pre-empting a likely move by party leaders.
A group of LNP members wanted him replaced by former Howard government minister Mal Brough. As a backer of the 'Joh for Canberra' campaign in 1987, he brought to an end a young(er) Johh Howard's chances of winning an election that year.
Perhaps significantly, he was already under pressure from colleagues to resign over a series of issues involving travel and electorate allowances.
He came under fire in his constituency last year for his expenses bill of $640,000; according to the Australian, Mr Slipper has had to repay $20,000.
Mr Slipper said his decision to take up the role of Speaker was encouraged by the actions of some people inside the LNP in recent times.
"Frankly I've got to admit I'm not perfect, I've made some mistakes as some of the colourful stories about me reveal," he said.
Yet Slipper is a survivor - giving rise to his nickname, Slippery Pete.
One Liberal backbencher Mr Slipper has not seen eye to eye with is Alex Somlyay, the MP for the southeast Queensland seat of Fairfax, who was accused of leaking a photograph of Mr Slipper sleeping while the Indonesian President addressed parliament.
A colourful character, Mr Slipper has also survived reports of drunken behaviour and attempts to change the Hansard record which may have felled inferior political battlers.
Mr Somlyay told ABC radio before his appointment to the role of Speaker that it was time for Mr Slipper to be sacked.
He said the "point of no return" came a week ago when Mr Slipper invited former Labor leader Kevin Rudd to a function in his electorate, stealing the limelight from a visit by former Liberal prime minister John Howard.
The MP said Opposition leader Tony Abbott should act against Mr Slipper.
"The Liberal National Party should sacrifice Peter Slipper to deal with him once and for all."
