ABC News Radio

SUBJECTS: Election of the new Speaker E&OE……  Marius Benson: Christopher Pyne as the dust settles from the events of yesterday there is still some debate about the tactical issues, but the fact is now would you accept that the Government’s numbers are now better, that’s the lasting impact of the events yesterday? Christopher Pyne: Well Marius, tactics come and go and I’m sure the Labor Party will crow they’ve had a tactical victory in necking poor Harry Jenkins and putting Peter Slipper into his job and therefore depriving the Opposition of one vote on the floor of the House, but events move very quickly in a minority Parliament. I wouldn’t assume things will stay exactly as they are for the next two years. Benson:  Peter Slipper in taking the job said I’ve made some mistakes, there are a lot of reports today that the Coalition has material it can use to damage Peter Slipper, do you have the Slipper Dirt File? Pyne: Look I don’t think there is any truth to the suggestion of that, not at all. We will work with Peter Slipper, of course we will. I have known him for a very long time, we’ve been in Parliament for nineteen years. He’s the Speaker and we respect the office, he will technically handle the job of Speaker well and that is a matter for the Parliament. Benson: There have been controversies in Peter Slipper’s past about expenses and other things. Is Peter Slipper in your view a man of integrity? Pyne:  Oh look Marius I don’t think it is going to get anybody anywhere focusing on Peter Slipper.  The truth is he is the Speaker and Julia Gillard wears like a crown of thorns her reputation as a person who is prepared to put herself, her own political survival, her political skin, ahead of political principle. Benson:  There’s quite a bit of analysis around this morning that says this puts more pressure on Tony Abbott.  That it puts his leadership under pressure.  Tony Abbott should have seen this coming and done something about Peter Slipper, it’s embarrassing for him.  What do you think of that? Pyne:  I think that is so much nonsense Marius that it’s not even worth worrying about.  The truth is that what happened yesterday was one of those things which happens in politics.  Julia Gillard is the one that should be wearing the opprobrium ofwhat happened to Harry Jenkins yesterday.  That is the take out of the events of yesterday. Benson:  Can you clarify just what you’re saying was wrong with the events of yesterday.  Are you claiming any law was broken? Pyne:  Marius, it’s the Westminster tradition in this country.  It’s well established that the Government nominates one of their own to be Speaker of the Parliament.  That is beyond any debate.  What the Government did yesterday was utterly unprecedented in the Australian Westminster system. Benson: Labor would claim there’s plenty of precedents for your side of politics breaking Westminster conventions.  They were broken in 1975 with the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, in 1996 with the defection of Senator Mal Colston.  What do you say to that? Pyne: Well, Marius we could get into a long and detailed argument about 1975.  One day that might be interesting, but I can tell you that no Westminster traditions were broken in 1975.  The Governor General dismissed the Government because it couldn’t guarantee supply. Benson: You spoke to Peter Slipper as he was sitting in the Speakers Chair yesterday.  What did you say to him? Pyne: My conversations with the Speaker remain between me and the Speaker.  Obviously as Manager of Opposition Business I will be working with the Speaker as I have to do with Anthony Albanese as Leader of the House to make the Parliament work as well as it can for the benefit of the best interests of the country and the people. Benson: One reason that Harry Jenkins gave for quitting yesterday was that he found life there in that post pretty lonely.  Do you think Peter Slipper might find himself a bit friendless on your side of politics a bit now? Pyne: I thought Harry Jenkins yesterday looked like a man who’d swallowed a watermelon.  I don’t think he looked like a person who was punching the air because he was going to hang around with all his friends again.  I think the truth of Harry Jenkins’ resignation is that he was forced to resign to deny the Opposition a seat on the floor of the Parliament and I think it’s a sadness when the Parliament is reduced to that level of cattle trading and bargaining just to save the skin of one particular Prime Minister. Benson: Christopher Pyne, thank you very much. Pyne: Thanks Marius, good to talk to you. ENDS