The Wire

The resignation of The Speaker of the House in Canberra today caused chaos and looks likely to change the political landscape for Labor. It will give Labor an extra vote that it needs in a Parliament where independents often hold the balance of power.

Although the Liberal party argued long and hard for the replacement to be from the Labor Party, the position will be filled by former Liberal National Party Peter Slipper, who ahs been under pressure from his party and ahs today resigned.