Libs pull fast one on Labor as bid to break up CFA fails

THE Andrews Government’s controversial bid to break up the CFA has been sensationally derailed after Liberal MPs tricked Labor colleagues into not voting.

Liberal MPs Craig Ondarchie and Bernie Finn claimed they could not attend yesterday’s Upper House vote on the Fire Service Reform Bill as they needed to observe Good Friday, and asked Labor to stand down two of its MPs.

Labor agreed under parliament’s longstanding “pairing” convention, which enables MPs on either side of the political divide to miss parliament due to illness or other circum- stances without undermining the democratic process.

But, in an unprecedented move, Mr Finn and Mr Ondarchie then appeared in the chamber yesterday just minutes before the decisive vote, allowing the Coalition to de- feat the controversial Bill 19-18.

The brutal manoeuvre came after crossbencher Rachel Carling-Jenkins — who has claimed to oppose the Bill — handed the Government a critical advantage in the vote when she informed parliament she was too sick to attend, but did not request a Labor MP abstain. The shock stunt, which followed a marathon 24-hour debate on the Bill, prompted outrage and tears in the house, with Labor MPs even accusing their opponents of insulting Christianity with treachery.

Labor Western Metro MP Cesar Melhem called Mr Finn and Mr Ondarchie the most dishonourable men on earth.

“If they truly are good Christians the only place waiting for them is hell,” Mr Melhem said.

Leader of the government in the Legislative Council, Gavin Jennings, said Mr Ondarchie had “begged, preached and prayed” to be with his family on the holy day.

“If he has a skerrick of sin- cerity he must be feeling devastated that he was part of this con trick to breach convention,’’ Mr Jennings said.

Western Metro MP Mr Finn in asking for a “pair” had said: “This is the day that my Lord was crucified. I do not want to be here.”

Northern Metro MP Mr Ondarchie had even spent several minutes praying in the chamber at midnight. In a statement yesterday, Mr Finn said he had been ordered back to parliament for the vote.

“If they truly are good Christians the only place waiting for them is hell.” LABOR WESTERN METRO MP CESAR MELHEM