No Confidence Motion in Victorian Parliament today - Being Moved Now

[Smid]

It is expected the Opposition will be moving a No-Confidence motion in Planning Minister Justin Madden today in the Upper House (Legislative Council). The numbers are expected to be close and likely to hinge on which way a single member votes. Here's a news story on it: 

http://www.theage.com.au/national/madden-facing-noconfidence-motion-20090529-bqba.html

If you want to tune in to listen (audio only, no video) to proceedings, the link to the webcast is (go for the Legislative Council):

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/hansard/live/

Edit - the motion's being moved now.

[Smid]

The motion of no confidence passed.

[afleitch]

The motion of no confidence passed.

Does that mean what I think it means

[Smid]

The motion of no confidence passed.

Does that mean what I think it means

Unfortunately, probably not. It's not no confidence in the Government, which makes it pretty much no more powerful than a very public slap on the wrist. The Premier said a couple of weeks ago that he wouldn't sack the Minister for misleading Parliament and that it was a matter for the Parliament to decide. The Parliament decided last night, but the Premier ruled out sacking the Minister, saying "the real issue is whether the public has confidence in the opposition." So it looks like nothing is really going to happen.

Here's the news story at one of the papers:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/madden-censured-by-parliament-20090603-bvpl.html

It strikes at branch stacking in the ALP, and this article also appeared in the paper today:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/more-labor-branch-stacking-alleged-20090603-bvpj.html

Overall, it's about the Ombudsman's report into corruption in the Brimbank City Council, which was released about a month ago. If you want some more info, I can tell you a bit more about it.