Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

is that, when there is a vote that has the support of both the government and the opposition, the coalition and the Labor Party, it is referred to as a 'mickey', and that is a vote which—because it is going to be carried by such an overwhelming majority—frontbenchers, and indeed other members, regularly do not attend. So I can note that, on this particular vote, the shadow special minister of state, the Labor senator Senator Farrell, did not attend; Senator Carr did not attend; indeed, the Labor Party's chief whip, Senator Urquhart, did not attend. That is, apparently, the practice in the Senate.

Mr Shorten interjecting —

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