MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins asked to explain CFA bill vote no-show

AUSTRALIAN Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi has demanded an explanation from one of his MPs after she flew to the US just days after being too ill to attend a critical vote at state ­parliament.

AUSTRALIAN Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi has demanded an explanation from one of his MPs after she flew to the US just days after being too ill to attend state ­parliament.

Rachel Carling-Jenkins jetted to Washington on Monday last week, after missing a crucial Good Friday vote on a fire services restructure Bill.

MP TOO ILL FOR CFA VOTE JETTED OFF TO WASHINGTON

Senator Bernardi said a full explanation was now needed from the MP, who last year ­defected to his party from the Democratic Labour Party.

“Statements attributed to individuals and spokesmen give rise to legitimate matters that are in the public interest,” he said. “It now falls to Dr ­Carling-Jenkins to give clear and detailed responses.”

Dr Carling-Jenkins said the trip, part-funded by taxpayers, was planned and she had gained medical clearance to take the 21-hour flight.

Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins speaking at the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Global Summit in Washington.

She denied doing a deal with the Andrews Government to stay away from parliament during a vote on the Bill, which she had said she opposed.

Senator Bernadi said: “Australian Conservatives support public accountability and transparency for all MPs. We can only hope to restore public faith and confidence in our parliaments if we uphold the highest standards.

“We expect it of others and demand it of ourselves.”

Dr Carling-Jenkins was in Washington DC for a global summit held by the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation. A photo posted to social media showed her holding a glass of wine with Family First NZ leader Bob McCoskrie. She also gave a speech.

Dr Carling-Jenkins denied state Opposition suggestions that she had done a deal with the government to be absent during debate on the Fire Services Reform Bill, which sought to axe the CFA.

“I have no deal with the government — this is simply not true,” she said. “I was genuinely ill.”

Rachel Carling-Jenkins with Cory Bernardi, who has asked her to explain herself. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

She insisted that her position on the government’s fire services reform plan had not changed, and that she had ­discussed with the government how to get a pair.

“I was instructed that single member parties are not entitled to receive a pair,” she said.

But Reason Party MP Fiona Patten said mixed messages about pairing — when two MPs from opposing sides abstain from a vote — had raised fresh questions about her fellow crossbencher’s actions.

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“I took on face value that she was not well, but also that she distinctly said, ‘I do not want to be paired’, which to me indicated that she had changed her position and was ­supportive of the legislation but didn’t want to come out and say that,” Ms Patten said.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Premier Daniel Andrews and Emergency Services Minister James Merlino “had some explaining to do”.

But a government spokesman said the Liberals were spreading “lies”.

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