Liberal leadership unrepentant about breaking Good Friday pair

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Guy told Liberals to vote against a controversial piece of legislation last week that led to two MPs reneging on a deal they had struck with government ministers.

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Guy told Liberals to vote against a controversial piece of legislation last week that led to two MPs reneging on a deal they struck with the government.

Liberal MPs and devout Christians Bernie Finn and Craig Ondarchie were granted a “pair” by Labor after complaining about having to remain in State Parliament on Good Friday.

Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford and Small Business Minister Philip Dalidakis left the parliament after the two Liberals were offered the deal, so that the two lost Liberal votes would be cancelled out.

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The government had extended the sitting hours of parliament into Good Friday to ram through its fire services legislation, which would dismantle the CFA and create a new body for paid firefighters from the MFB and CFA called Fire Rescue Victoria.

After Mr Dalidakis and Ms Pulford left parliament, the two Liberals reappeared to derail the bill.

Upper House MP Craig Ondarchie prayed in Parliament on Good Friday.

Bernie Finn.

The extraordinary move led to widespread outrage and claims that the coalition had used religion as cover to cheat and lie.

Mr Guy said “it was my decision” and that he stood by it, saying that the will of the Parliament was to vote against the legislation.

The opposition leader said he had decided “whatever the circumstance, pair or not pair” all of his party’s MPs should be present for the vote.

He said he knew Mr Ondarchie and Mr Finn had left the parliament when he told MPs to be present to vote against the bill.

“I make no apology for that,” he said.

The Legislative Council had been sitting since the previous day, because the Andrews Government wanted to vote on its bill during the absence of Australian Conservatives MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins.

Ms Carling-Jenkins had said publicly she opposed the bill, but last week said she was too ill to come to parliament to vote against it.

She did not get a pair from the government, which says she didn’t request one.

When asked whether Victorians could trust his word, Mr Guy said Labor had repeatedly abused parliamentary conventions and he had given his word to stand up for volunteer firefighters.

“Telling the truth, I said I would stand up for the CFA and I will,” he said.

“They have preyed on the absence of a sick MP.

“After breaking all conventions of sitting and not granting a pair when asked, I won’t be lectured to by these people when it comes to breaking conventions.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the Liberal Party can’t be trusted after it broke a parliamentary convention.

Mr Guy said he took responsibility for the actions of Mr Finn and Mr Ondarchie.

“My word to all of my MPs was they all of them should be there to vote,” he said.

“I made it very clear to all of my MPs I expected them back to be there for the vote.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said the Liberal Party’s actions on Good Friday showed they can’t be trusted.

“I’ll leave (Mr Guy) to explain how it is that he thinks it is OK to lie about praying, lie about going to church, lie about the fact you are gripped by your faith and belief only to then turn up and vote,” Mr Andrews said.

“You cannot trust these people. It is as simple as that.”

He said Mr Guy had “bragged” about the fact he directed his MPs to use religion as a cover to trick two Labor MPs into not voting on the Fire Services Reform Bill.

“In these actions directed by him on Friday he has shown that he cannot be trusted,” Mr Andrews said.

Mr Andrews even cast doubt on if Northern Metro Liberal MP was sincerely praying in the Chamber at midnight on Good Friday.

“Sitting praying in the chamber, were they or were they pretending to — you can’t trust these people,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the government were exploring all its options in relation to bringing back the Fire Services Reform legislation.

The legislation has been dogged by controversy, and was created by the government when it was unable to get a new CFA workplace deal enacted.

The Bill was also linked to presumptive rights legislation for firefighters.

Mr Guy said he would introduce a Bill for presumptive rights of compensation for firefighters who are hit by certain types of cancer.