Leader of the House Christopher Pyne says he did not give MPs permission to leave Parliament early, labelling a series of embarrassing defeats for the government in the House of Representatives on Thursday a "stuff up".
The chaotic end to the first week of the new Parliament has triggered a blame game and Justice Minister Michael Keenan on Friday took responsibility for his absence, saying "it was a work-related matter but that's obviously no excuse".
More News Videos
Turnbull reprimands MPs
After some Coalition MPs left early on Thursday night, Labor pounced and the Government lost three votes in the House of Representatives.
The government, commanding a slim majority with 76 seats, lost multiple procedural votes as senior ministers Peter Dutton, Christian Porter and Mr Keenan were absent from the chamber.
On Friday, Mr Pyne attempted to insulate himself from blame as the ministers and government whips – responsible for rallying and counting MPs for votes – also face serious questions over the events.
"There is no doubt what happened late yesterday afternoon was a stuff up. Those people who weren't there learnt a valuable lesson, everyone learnt a valuable lesson," Mr Pyne told Nine's Today program.
"It's a salutary lesson for anyone who went home before the House rose yesterday afternoon. I'm absolutely certain that they won't do that again."
A contrite Mr Keenan apologised for his failure, taking "full responsibility" and telling ABC radio that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had "made his view clear to me that he thinks that is unacceptable".
"It's a decision that I shouldn't have taken and obviously I'm sorry that I did. It was a work-related matter but that's obviously no excuse," he said, adding that his absence was related to "a significant operation in the AFP".
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Leader of the House Christopher Pyne in Parliament on Thursday night.](/web/20160902041148im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/6/u/d/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gr6zod.png/1472770457735.jpg)
"Every member should be available for divisions at all times and I haven't failed in that responsibility in the past and won't be failing in that responsibility again in the future."
The opposition's victories have undermined the Coalition's claim of having a stable, working majority government.
It is the first time a majority government has lost votes in the lower house since 1962, when Sir Robert Menzies had a one seat majority.
Chief Nationals whip George Christensen tweeted that he was not the government whip but "chief whip of the Nationals who were all in the Parliament until close".
The chief government whip is Nola Marino, assisted by Rowan Ramsey and Bert van Manen.
Labor was one vote away from successfully passing a final motion for a royal commission into banks.
"We will never, never, never give up seeking justice for the victims of banks and financial services," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said in the chamber.
"We will never, never give up seeking a banking royal commission."
51 comments
New User? Sign up