Ms Gillard rejected the claim, saying: “What we’ve heard from the Opposition today is typical of every Opposition contribution, full of abuse, full of bluster, full of conspiracy theories.”
However, Labor now has a two-vote buffer – it adds Mr Jenkins’ vote while Mr Slipper takes his to the cross benches – meaning the Government may not need to deliver in full on the poker machine reforms demanded by Mr Wilkie to tackle problem gambling in exchange for his support.
Labor will also be in a stronger position to field some of the demands of the other independents and Greens MP.
It is understood Ms Gillard has individually reassured each of the crossbenchers she will deliver on promises made to them after the 2010 election.
But 2012 may be a whole new matter. Mr Wilkie believes the Prime Minister would “work in good faith” towards legislating poker machine reforms by mid-2012.
Mr Albanese said it was “clear to everyone” the LNP in Queensland, which has a tense relationship with the member for Fisher, was hounding Mr Slipper out of the party.
Queensland LNP president Bruce McIver believed the speaker deal was stitched up by former Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who last week visited Mr Slipper in his Queensland seat.
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