Libs block Porter bid

A PROBE into whether Christian Porter broke rules when he accepted an anonymous donation for his legal fees in a high-profile defamation case has been blocked by the Morrison government.

Mr Porter, the former attorney-general, last month quit the ministry after refusing to reveal the identity of donors who helped pay for his case against the ABC.

Labor on Wednesday tried to refer the matter to the privileges committee to investigate if Mr Porter was in contempt of the House. The motion was given the green light to proceed by Speaker Tony Smith. But it was defeated by the government with 52 to 49 votes.