Government seething with Liberal Party ‘con-trick’ on fire reform

THE ANDREWS Government’s controversial bid to break up the CFA has been sensationally derailed after Liberal MPs tricked Labor colleagues into not voting.

THE ANDREWS Government’s controversial bid to break up the CFA has been sensationally derailed after Liberal MPs tricked Labor colleagues into not voting.

Liberal MPs Craig Ondarchie and Bernie Finn claimed they could not attend yesterday’s upper house vote on the Fire Service Reform Bill as they needed to observe Good Friday, and asked Labor to stand down two of its MPs.

Labor agreed under parliament’s longstanding ‘pairing’ convention, which enables MPs on either side of the political divide to miss parliament due to illness or other circumstances without undermining the democratic process.

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The Legislative Council debating the fire services reform. Picture: Nicole Garmston

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But, in an unprecedented move, Mr Finn and Mr Ondarchie then appeared in the chamber on Friday just minutes before the decisive vote, allowing the Coalition to defeat the controversial bill 19-18.

The brutal manoeuvre came after crossbencher Rachel Carling-Jenkins — who has claimed to oppose the bill — handed the government a critical advantage in the vote when she informed parliament she was too sick to attend, but did not request a Labor MP abstain.

The shock stunt, which followed a marathon 24-hour debate on the bill, prompted outrage and tears in the house, with Labor MPs even accusing their opponents of insulting Christianity with their treachery.

Labor Western Metro MP Cesar Melhem called Mr Finn and Mr Ondarchie were the most dishonourable men on earth.

“If they truly are good Christians the only place waiting for them is Hell,” Mr Melhem said.

Leader of the government in the Legislative Council, Gavin Jennings, said Mr Ondarchie had “begged, preached and prayed” to be with his family on the holy day.

“If he has a skerrick of sincerity he must be feeling devastated that he was part of this con trick to breach convention,’’ Mr Jennings said.

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Liberal MPs Bernie Finn had earlier this morning requested a pair. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Mr Ondarchie, in asking for a “pair”, had said: “This is the day that my Lord was crucified. I do not want to be here.”

Northern Metro MP Mr Ondarchie had even spent several minutes praying in the chamber at midnight.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Finn said he had been offended at having to sit on Good Friday as it showed disrespect to Christians.

He left after being offered a pair, he said, but had been ordered back to Parliament yesterday morning for the vote.

“We saved the CFA. Mission accomplished,” Mr Finn said.

The furious government said Labor MPs Philip Dalidakis and Jaala Pulford had left for family holidays on the understanding Mr Ondarchie and Mr Finn would not return.

Rachel Carling-Jenkins was absent due to illness. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Craig Ondarchie

Debating the fire services reform. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Mr Jennings said the government would attempt to bring the bill — to split the fire services into volunteer and career only brigades — back to parliament as soon as possible.

Labor whip Jaclyn Symes — who approved the pairing arrangement with Opposition whip Wendy Lovell — said breaching the convention would have ‘huge ramifications’ on the running of parliament.

But Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto said the Coalition was proud of its actions.

“We are proud of what we have done in stopping Daniel Andrews’ efforts to destroy the great work the CFA do,” he said.

“Today is the day we saved the CFA, the public is not concerned about internal pairing arrangements.”

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