Personal Explanations

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with a motion introduced by Kingston MP Amanda Rishworth (Labor), which means it failed. The motion was to suspend the usual procedural rules - known as standing orders - in order to let another vote take place.

Motion text

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Kingston from moving the following motion immediately:

That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) by keeping the Member for Bowman as chair of the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training, the Prime Minister is showing how little value he places on committee work;

(b) his failure to respond to a letter written by female Opposition members of the committee urging him to act also shows how little value he places on the views of women;

(c) Government members need to stop the protection racket for the Member for Bowman; and

(d) the Prime Minister's failure to act is a demonstration of weakness, rather than leadership; and

(2) therefore, calls on the Prime Minister to discharge the Member for Bowman from the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training immediately.