The practice of granting a pair allows an MP to be away from the chamber when there is sufficient reason. It serves the same purpose as a proxy vote, except it works in reverse. While a proxy would allow the absent member to vote in absentia, a pair means a member on the other side doesn't vote so as not to take unfair advantage of the member's absence.
The federal Opposition has played unrelentingly hard on pairs. Naturally Government members, whose vote is needed in the chamber, have not taken unauthorised leave. To do so would risk the Government's majority whenever a vote was called.
The purpose of the Opposition's actions is both practical and symbolic. It wants to make life difficult for Government MPs despite the impact on its own members. Furthermore it wants to emphasise the closeness of the numbers in parliament, whenever a Government member seeks leave. When the Government MP is a so-called 'baddie', like former health services unionist Craig Thomson (pictured), then even better.
The same is true when the Opposition wants to focus attention on particular issues, like the Carbon Tax. But the logic appears to have spread to any vote at any time.
Both Arts Minister Simon Crean and Liberal Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull were refused leave to attend the funeral of artist Margaret Olley, despite the bipartisanship.
This attitude to pairs has led to some crazy situations, most recently when Thomson applied for medical leave. The Opposition queried Thomson's medical certificate. Not only did it request further information, but Warren Entsch, the Chief Opposition Whip, made personally intrusive speculations about his health.
All this might seem trivial. But there are broader consequences that a full analysis of the refusal of pairs would reveal. Who is really suffering from MPs being tied to their desks in the chamber unnecessarily?
Recently I was involved in an extremely silly example.
The 17th National Schools Constitutional Convention was held in Old Parliament House on 21–23 March. This event for 125 year 12 students from across the country is sponsored by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Politicians from all sides of Parliament have addressed the students at past conventions. But this year all efforts to involve parliamentarians