Vic govt MPs told not to request pairs

Victorian MPs are heading back to parliament with the Labor government buoyant after delivering its budget and welcoming billions of dollars from Canberra.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media in Melbourne.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is claiming an early $7.8 billion victory on behalf of the state. (AAP)

The fallout from Victorian parliament's Good Friday scandal continues with government politicians told not to seek a 'pair' when planning to be absent from the chamber.

More than a month after the Liberal-National opposition successfully overthrew a government bill in the upper house, Labor MPs were told on Tuesday not to take part in the long-standing arrangement.

Pairing is when a member across the floor abstains from voting to balance the count when a politician can't be present.

On Good Friday Liberal MPs Bernie Finn and Craig Ondarchie were each granted a pair on religious grounds, during the contentious vote to overhaul the state's fire services.

But the two came back when the final vote was called, killing the bill and breaking a long-held gentleman's agreement between the major parties.

"Last sitting week I was feeling pretty sick about returning to a place where trust had broken down," the government's upper house leader Gavin Jennings told reporters on Tuesday.

"I don't know if and when trust will be restored in the upper house.

"I'm encouraging my colleagues not to ask for (a pair) and we'll see if we can actually manage without them."

For his part, Mr Finn says he is not sorry about the move.

When asked if he would do it again, Mr Finn on Tuesday said: "Yes, I would".

Premier Daniel Andrews said what happened on Good Friday was an "extraordinary turn of events", but he expected the pairing arrangements in the Legislative Assembly would remain unchanged.


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Published 8 May 2018 12:24pm
Source: AAP


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