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'Stock up on vitamin C': Labor vows revenge for Liberal 'bastardry'

The opposition also argues that Labor was engaged in a dirty trick of its own, bringing on the vote while the Australian Conservatives' Rachel Carling Jenkins, who was know to be opposed to the bill, was on sick leave.

But Labor's fury was unabated on Sunday with Ms Mikakos saying her party would neither forgive nor forget the conduct of the Liberals, Craig Ondarchie and Bernie Finn, on Good Friday.

When MPs from major parties are absent from Parliament, opposing parties usually grant "a pair" taking one of their own out of the chamber to even up the numbers, under a system that allows Parliament to continue functioning when MP are ill or absent for other reasons.

Labor granted Mr Ondarchie and Mr Finn pairs after the two devout Catholics asked late on Thursday night to be allowed go home from the all-night sitting to observe their faith at Easter.

But when the they reappeared on Friday morning to vote down the legislation, Labor and Greens MPs were stunned and decades of Parliamentary convention were shattered.

Neither Mr Finn nor Mr Ondarchie responded to requests for comment on Sunday.

One of the Labor 'pairs', Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford, who went home to Ballarat after being paired with Mr Ondarchie, used Twitter to accuse the Liberals' of a  premeditated deception.

"Craig Ondarchie gave a performance that was worthy of an Oscar," Ms Pulford Tweeted.

"I won’t be falling for that a second time, that’s for sure.

"And if my kids lied like that, the Easter Bunny would be cancelled."

A senior Liberal also indicated on Sunday that the pairing system was finished, at least for the life of the present Parliament.

"There won't be any more pairs granted, I wouldn't have thought, not in this Parliament anyway," the source said.

A government spokesman said Labor was looking at ways to bring its legislation back to Parliament as quickly as possible.

“We are currently considering all Parliamentary avenues to see the passage of this legislation at the earliest possible opportunity  to correct the abuse of the Parliament that we witnessed on Friday," the spokesman said.

Ms Mikakos was not mincing her words on Sunday.

"I’ve been in the parliament for almost 19 years," she said.

"A pair being reneged on has never ever happened before.

“This will have ramifications for the running of the Parliament for years to come.

"If people professing with religious fervour their desire to be paired can’t be trusted, and their leadership believes the end justifies the means, no one can rely on the Liberals' word ever again.

"They better stock up on their vitamin C as we head into flu season.”

Noel Towell

Noel Towell is State Political Editor for The Age

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