DEPUTY SPEAKER

The Deputy Speaker in the House of Reps is paid $164,000 per year, which is 20% more that what a backbencher is paid.

Liberal MP, Peter Slipper has agreed to take the position and was supported by the ALP and all the crossbench members. Earlier Tony Abbott had prevailed on another Liberal, Alex Somlyay, not to take the position.

Phillip Corey in The Sydney Morning Herald observes the development in the first day of sitting of the new evenly balanced House of Reps:

A furious Mr Abbott told a Coalition party room meeting afterwards that while it was understandable to feel anger, he warned against forcing the already unpopular Mr Slipper – widely known in Canberra as Slippery Pete – out of the party. Every vote was precious and Mr Slipper would be needed when he was not in the chair.

”He gave an impassioned plea not to make a bad situation worse,” said a source.

The drama capped off a tense day of what was supposed to be a largely ceremonial opening of the 43rd Parliament.

Mr Jenkins was appointed Speaker with the support of both sides. The speaker cannot cast a deliberative vote and Labor was angry that Mr Abbott had reneged on a deal that the Coalition would provide a deputy speaker who also would not vote, a process known as pairing.

This would have ensured Labor’s two-seat buffer of 76-74 was preserved as 75-73.

Mr Slipper’s deal did not include a promise to pair with Mr Jenkins. Nor did he promise to support the government on supply and against no-confidence motions.

But by accepting the job, he robs the Coalition of a number when Mr Jenkins is absent, the next best thing to having a paired speaker.

When Parliament resumed at 5pm to elect the deputy, the Coalition was not going to nominate a candidate. It was expecting a stand-off until the government was forced to nominate its candidate, Anna Burke.

But after being ambushed by the Slipper nomination, the Coalition nominated the Nationals MP, Bruce Scott, in a bid at least to deny Mr Slipper the job.

By losing the ballot, Mr Scott became the second Deputy Speaker, meaning he must deputise for Mr Slipper when he and Mr Jenkins are absent. This would give Labor a 75-72 advantage.

So the first round goes to Gillard over Abbott who has been outplayed after breaking his agreement. Tony Abbott does not want to come off second best too often, otherwise his position is in jeopardy. A whole new game is afoot in Canberra.