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She hasn’t been declared the winner, but Kerryn Phelps’s fellow crossbenchers have given the Wentworth independent a crash course into the workings of Parliament.
Ms Phelps, who is certain to snatch the seat from the Liberals in last Saturday’s historic by-election, said it was important she “hit the ground running” once the result is formally declared.
And she made it clear while she wants the government to run its full term, getting sick children and their families off Nauru is her number one priority.
Parliament rises tonight and Ms Phelps will only have two weeks to settle in before the long summer break.
Ms Phelps said pressuring the government to transfer asylum seekers and refuges from Nauru was critical.
“It’s just not acceptable,” she said.
“One in four children are suicidal.
“It is outrageous the government’s ignoring the pleas of the medical profession.
“They can’t get the medical treatment in Nauru. It’s a matter of emergency.
“Do we wait for one of these children to die before they act?”
Labor has switched its position, and will back legislation to ban any asylum seeker re-settled in New Zealand from ever coming to Australia.
The government, though, wants the legislation to stop any settlement here from any third country.
Ms Phelps also wants the establishment of a national integrity commission, and with crossbench backing, it would pass parliament.
Other independents, Cathy McGowan, and Rebekha Sharkie, both reaffirmed a preference for stability and for the Morrison minority government to survive until next year’s general election.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2018
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