The Government has blocked an inquiry that could determine whether Christian Porter breached parliamentary privilege by refusing reveal the names of those who donated to his legal costs
Speaker Tony Smith – who has been battling to force better behaviour in the House of Representatives on MPs including Scott Morrison – has announced he will not contest the next election.
For the second time this year Liberal MPs have asserted themselves over their leader. Making it clear they wanted a contest for the speakership, with no attempted “captain’s pick”, was nothing like the…
Victorian MP Tony Smith has been elected speaker by the Liberal party room.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Victorian Liberal Tony Smith has convincingly won his party’s ballot for speaker and outlined to the House of Representatives his plans to improve the operation of what has been a chaotic parliament.
After his disastrous ‘captain’s call’ Bronwyn Bishop, Tony Abbott has indicated that those aspiring to succeed her as speaker can fight it out to get the numbers among their peers.
Ben Macmahon/AAP
The glittering prize of the speakership is dangling in front of the eyes of several backbenchers whose careers are becalmed. They have a rare chance. Almost all advancement in the government is in the…