PM must refuse to accept vote of Family First senator Bob Day to pass ABCC crackdown

Labor says Malcolm Turnbull should not accept the vote of retiring Family First senator Bob Day to pass his ABCC regime.

Family First Party Senator Bob Day has quit parliament to deal with problems with his housing business group.

Malcolm Turnbull must refuse to accept the vote of scandal-plagued Family First senator Bob Day for the government’s industrial relations crackdown, Labor says.

The South Australian senator, who was re-elected to a three-year term in July, announced last week that he would resign from the upper house to deal with the collapse into liquidation of his Home Australia group of companies.

However, as the senator has not yet formally handed in his resignation letter, he may still vote on laws to establish an Australian Building and Construction Commission and Registered Organisations Commission.

Brendan O’Connor, the opposition employment spokesman, called on the government to refuse Senator Day’s vote.

Crossbench Senators, left-to-right Bob Day, John Madigan, David Leyonhjelm and Nick Xenonphon.

“Bob Day is likely to be declared bankrupt and his company’s conduct has led to hundreds of families and contractors being ripped off,” Mr O’Connor said.

“By accepting Bob Day’s vote, Malcolm Turnbull will adding insult to injury for families and contractors who’ve lost so much as a result of his business dealings.”

The Liberal Party criticised Julia Gillard’s minority government for relying on the “tainted vote” of independent MP Craig Thomson, who at the time faced corruption allegations.

Mr O’Connor questioned whether Senator Day had colluded with the government to delay his resignation.

“Malcolm Turnbull will do anything to pass the workplace relations Bills because he knows his leadership depends on it,” he said.

“Accepting Senator Day’s vote would be the ultimate sign of weakness.”

Senator Day’s replacement will be nominated by the Family First Party and must be confirmed, as a formality, by the South Australian parliament.

The candidates include Senator Day’s chief adviser, Rikki Lambert, and state parliamentarian Robert Brokenshire.