Scott Morrison’s ‘betrayal’: Why Dr Fiona Martin and four other Liberal MPs flipped on religious freedom bill vote

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was blindsided when five Liberal MPs crossed the floor to protect trans students from discrimination.

She’s the woman that blindsided the Prime Minister in Parliament over religious freedom laws, crossing the floor with four other Liberal MPs to protect trans students from discrimination.

NSW Liberal MP Dr Fiona Martin, a trained psychologist who treated trans kids, has told colleagues that she simply realised she had to be able to “sleep at night”.

“As a psychologist I’ve treated vulnerable young people for depression and suicidal ideation,’’ she said.

“The consequences of discrimination are real, and no young person should face them because of who they are.

“In the early hours of this morning, I was very proud to defend all students - and their right to live free, fair and happy lives.”

It was the biggest backbench revolt since the 1980s - five Liberal MPs crossing the floor in a marathon 22-hour sitting.

But her brave call has now sparked anger and bitter recriminations and claims that she and other MPs “betrayed”, “misled” and “shafted” the Prime Minister in late talks.

Liberal MP Dr Fiona Martin took part in the biggest backbench revolt since the 1980s when she blindsided the PM in Parliament over religious freedom laws. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch has revealed the inside story of the dramatic meeting in the Prime Minister’s office before the MPs voted with Labor.

He insists they assured the PM they would stay with the government before voting with Labor after 3am.

“I look over and I’ve seen Fiona Martin sitting over there with Labor and I thought “what the bloody hell is going on over there!,’’ Mr Entsch said.

Dr Martin has told colleagues she decided on the floor of Parliament what she would do without informing the Prime Minister directly.

But she insists she never assured the Prime Minister she would vote for the bill and remained silent in the meeting.

The late night meeting was attended by the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Mr Entsch, Dr Fiona Martin and NSW Liberal MP David Sharma.

Victorian MP Katie Allen was not in attendance. Neither were Trent Zimmerman or Bridget Archer who were expected to cross the floor.

Mr Entsch has told news.com.au of what happened in the last minute dramatic negotiations to save the bill.

“I am telling you right now those that were there made a commitment to him. Definitely,’’ Mr Entsch said.

“He was totally shafted.”

Asked if the Prime Minister was betrayed, Mr Entsch said there was no question.

“I know. I know that someone has not been true to what the PM said. I was in the room,’’ he said.

“No ambiguity at all.”

Queensland MP Warren Entsch (right, with Mr Morrison) claims the PM was ‘blindsided’ after colleagues made a ‘commitment to him’ in a late-night meeting. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Entsch also revealed the Prime Minister had a “Plan B” he could have enacted if he had known so many MPs were going to cross the floor.

“Everyone is trying to vilify the PM on this one. They knew he had another option. He had a plan B,’’ he said.

“I am telling you now what happened there. I have never seen anything like it. I am profoundly disappointed.

“He acted in good faith. He wasn’t making threats.”

Liberal MP Dave Sharma told news.com.au that “his conscience was clear.”

Colleagues insist he didn’t mislead the Prime Minister and also dispute that Dr Fiona Martin betrayed the PM.

The meeting broke up because Liberal MP Katie Allen was not in attendance.

At one point Mr Morrison said “I’ll pull the bill,” if too many Liberal MPs walked.

Some participants said that Warren Entsch had only attended the one meeting and wasn’t privy to other conversations MPs had with the PM.

The Prime Minister believed he had the votes of four rebel Liberal MPs in the bag as a result of an agreement that dated back to December and the late night talks this week.

Queensland MP Angie Bell, Victorian MP Katie Allen and NSW MPs Dave Sharma and Fiona Martin released a statement in December saying they would back the religious freedom laws in exchange for protections for gay and trans kids.

However, it then emerged the legislation protected gay kids from expulsion but not trans kids if their existence was regarded as against the “ethos” of the school.

On that basis, the majority of the MPs who backed the PM in December abandoned him and crossed the floor.

In a statement released in December, the majority of those MPs said they would back the religious freedom laws and “welcomed proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that will remove the right of religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison’s ‘betrayal’: Why Dr Fiona Martin and four other Liberal MPs flipped on religious freedom bill vote