Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor arrives back to his electorate at Tamworth airport, NSW. Picture: Dan Himbrechts Source: The Daily Telegraph
- "Bullying tends to be counter productive," he says
- Andrew Wilkie says he is open to no confidence motion
- Sarah-Jane Oakeshott would like her husband to retire from politics
KEY independent MPs have lashed out at Tony Abbott's plan for a no confidence motion against Julia Gillard, calling it the "height of economic irresponsibility" and warning the Coalition against "bullying".
In a stern message to the Opposition leader, cross-bench MP Rob Oakeshott said he would "strongly caution" the Coalition against bringing forward a debate when parliament resumes for the Budget in May.
Tony Windsor, another NSW independent MP, said he remains sceptical that a vote against the Gillard Government would succeed even after last week's leadership turmoil.
"My guess is that if there was (a vote) tomorrow, it would go down - I would not be supporting it," the long-standing NSW MP said.
The Opposition is planning to bring forward a motion of no confidence when Parliament resumes for the Budget session in May.
An attempt last week to bring on a debate failed to muster enough support in parliament.
Tasmanian cross-bench MP Andrew Wilkie said he was "genuinely open minded" on supporting a motion that could destroy the minority Gillard Government.
If the debate was held this week, Mr Wilkie said he would "go into the chamber, listen to the whole debate and then make a decision".
"I am genuinely open minded, and that is not me dodging the answering the question. I don't have a bias one way, or the other," he said.
The Tasmanian MP said he would seek the views of voters around his electorate over the next several weeks.
"It is not lost on me that is a Labor-leaning electorate. I'm mindful of that - but also mindful of the degree of disappointment with the Government," he said.
Mr Oakeshott said he wanted an explanation on why Mr Abbott could not muster sufficient votes last week to bring on debate.
He hit out at the Coalition's plan to bring forward the motion at the same time Treasurer Wayne Swan is delivering the Government's key economic statement.
"Personally I think it's the height of economic irresponsibility. Wayne Swan doesn't just write (the budget) on the back of an envelope," Mr Oakeshott said.
The independent MP is yet to decide whether he will run again but his wife, Sarah-Jane, has told the Nine Network's 60 Minutes that she would prefer he retire and spend more time with his young family.
Mr Windsor who, along with Mr Oakeshott, delivered power to Ms Gillard - also questioned the Coalition's push to bring forward a no confidence motion when Parliament resumes.
"If I was them, I would not run it in budget week," he said.
Senior Coalition colleagues are expected to visit independent-held electorates over the next month as part of their campaign to push through a no confidence motion against the Government.
But Government Ministers remain confident they can fend off the Coalition "stunt" which would require a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives.
With the Government in turmoil following last week's leadership stoush, Tony Abbott called on the independents to listen to their electorates."The current government and all of the deceptions, the broken promises, the incompetence, the untrustworthiness - all stem from too many backroom, closed-door deals," Mr Abbott told the Ten Network's Bolt Report.
Mr Wilkie, the Tasmanian cross-bench MP, is more open to backing a no confidence motion, even though his electorate has traditionally been Labor-leaning.
Anthony Albanese, the Government's leader of business, remains confident about the ongoing support of the cross-bench."No responsible alternative prime minister could on budget day want the parliament of Australia to be distracted by a no-confidence motion," Mr Albanese said.
