Vic independent MP sides with opposition

Independent MP Geoff Shaw has told the Victorian parliament he has no confidence in the Speaker and sided with the opposition on a vote.

Victorian Independent MP Geoff Shaw

Independent MP Geoff Shaw has told the Victorian parliament he has no confidence in the Speaker. (AAP)

Independent Victorian MP Geoff Shaw has sided with the Labor opposition to stall government business and express no confidence in the Speaker.

Mr Shaw sided with the Labor Party in parliament on a vote which means government business cannot proceed and legislation cannot be put or passed this week.

"I think parliament's been degraded by people in this place, by the opposition, but by the person who runs it the most, the position of speaker," Mr Shaw told parliament on Tuesday.

Jacinta Allan, manager of opposition business, said the vote is unprecedented and the Napthine government is paralysed and in disarray.

"For the first time ever the government has lost a vote on the introduction of a government business program," she said.

"It's clear the government Denis Napthine leads doesn't have the support of the parliament."

Ms Allan said the Speaker, Liberal MP Ken Smith, does not have the support of the majority of the house and has no option but to consider his position.

Labor has for some time raised concerns about the Speaker's conduct in his role.

Mr Shaw made it clear to the opposition before the vote about losing confidence in the office of Speaker, Ms Allan said.

But manager of government business Louise Asher said she was "completely relaxed" about the situation and it simply means the lower house will now operate as the upper house.

"The house will have to handle each bill, bill by bill, and if necessary clause by clause."

Ms Asher says the Speaker will remain as there was no vote in relation to him.

"The real issue for the government is how Mr Shaw will vote on the bills.

"The situation is the Speaker is still in the chair and the government will debate a series of bills throughout the week and the lower house will have to behave like the upper house."

Debate is continuing in the parliament on the first bill and a vote will be taken when all MPs who want to have spoken on it.

Mr Shaw controls the balance of power in the Victorian parliament.

He quit the Liberal Party in March and moved to the crossbenches. His vote keeps the government in power.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world