Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

The pathway to the dwindling numbers of the opposition has been consistent. The member for New England defied the shadow cabinet then moved to the crossbench, knocking the opposition, who started at 42 this term, down to 41. The National Party defied a decision of the shadow cabinet and then moved to the crossbench, knocking the opposition from 42 members down to 28 yesterday. Today we had the first step, from the reader of The Art of War and his four followers, making sure that they defied the decision of the shadow cabinet. The number of people—

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