The victory also marks Nationals MP Tony Crook joining the Coalition formally. Crook has voted for more than 30 times with Labor. He will also sit with party colleagues in the parliament from Tuesday.

Labor clinched 71 seats while Coalition won 72. Although Prime Minister Julia Gillard still has control over the house, Opposition leader Tony Abbott now has more members and, in turn, more discipline over Crook’s vote.

Crook’s move was clearly welcomed. Nationals Leader Warren Truss said Crook’s decision to sit on the crossbenches was made after consultations with Nationals WA colleagues and constituencies. Truss added that Abbott believes that the move will serve the interest of the nation.

Crook has always a staunch critic of the Gillard government, especially its stand on carbon and mining taxes.

The politician has been a member of the National Party of Western Australian since 2010. He also served 10 years as Western Division chairman for the Royal Flying Doctor service. He retired from the post in 2009.

Recently, he sat as crossbencher, representing Western Australia. At around the same time Crook ran at the 2010 election, a hung parliament resulted. Crook said he would best serve Western Australia if he sat as a cross-bencher.

Political analysts said that the current developments are additional blows to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Prime Minister’s approval ratings have been down, following several scandals that rocked government officials.

These controversies include the Health Services Union and sexual allegations against Speaker Peter Slipper.

Albanese said that while he sympathises with anyone who might be a victim of sexual harassment, it appears that Mal Brough is using the case to seek Liberal pre-selection. He added that Brough is after Slipper’s seat in the parliament.

Brough is a former minister of the Howard government. He admitted that he has met Ashby at least three times this year and even advised him to get legal and police assistance weeks before Ashby filed the case against Slipper.

Brough said it was Ashby who sought him out for advice. The former minister said he cautioned Ashby and told him that should be absolutely sure of what he is accusing the Speaker of. He also advised the former aid to go to the AFP and get legal counsel.

Brough, however, denied that he spoke with any opposition MPs. He said he also never discussed the Slipper case to any LNP staff.

Slipper is being accused by his former aide for sexual misconduct. Ashby said Slipper hired him with the intention of pursuing a sexual relation with the 33-year-old aide.

Ashby also claimed that Slipper sent him SMS messages with the letter X, which is a text-speak for kisses.

Because of pressures from different sectors of the government, Slipper has resigned from his post as Speaker. He, however, continued to deny the allegations and said he hopes to be back in the May budget deliberations.

The Prime Minister was in Canberra this morning when she made the announcement. She said the controversies hounding Thomson and Slipper have cast a dark cloud and Australians are becoming more concerned about how the two have conducted themselves in public.

Gillard said she spoke to Thomson over the phone and suspended him from the party. She, however, clarified that she has not consulted the cabinet about it. She added that Thomson said he is mulling things over and moving to the cross-bench may be the best move.

The Prime Minister, meanwhile, said she asked Slipper to vacate his post as Speaker for a longer period as an act of respect for the Parliament. Deputy Speaker Anna Burke has temporarily replaced Slipper.

The embattled Speaker has accepted the Prime Minister’s recommendation and said he is looking forward to resuming his post soon.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott was quick to criticize Gillard, saying that the move is meaningless. He said that Gillard continues to count on Thomson’s vote so that Gillard can maintain control of the Parliament.

Abbott added that both Thomson and Slipper should not be eligible to vote in the Parliament.

Thomson is facing accusations for allegedly using the Health Services Union credit card to pay for the services of prostitutes. Slipper, meanwhile, is facing allegations of sexually harassing a former staffer. Both politicians have denied the claims.

High-earner individuals would have to pay 30 percent tax for their concessional super contributions. The move translates to a $1-billion savings for the government and would significantly aid in bringing the budget to surplus.

The changes in tax rate will take effect on May 8. Those who earn a taxable income of more than $300,000 will be affected. The number translates to about 1.2 percent of total workers who give contributions to their supper, roughly close to 130,000.

Minister for Superannuation Bill Shorten said that it is quite obvious that high-earning individuals benefit more for their super, most of them contributing to a smsf. To make the system fairer for the rest of Australian workers, the government wants to ensure that tax breaks for are imposed across income ranges.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has openly criticized the government for using family benefits to incite “class warfare.” Shorten, however, retaliates by saying the Abbott’s batting for the top 1 percent of has alienated and betrayed the rest of the Australia’s working families.

Some quarters have complained that the government use super when the budget is low. Industry observers also noted that it is the government’s way of distracting the public from scandals involving Speaker Peter Slipper.

The beleaguered Slipper has been accused of sexual misconduct towards a former staff named James Ashby. Slipper resigned from his post after calls intensified for him to vacate the post.

Slipper, however, continues to deny the allegations. He also hope he can join the May deliberation on the budget.

Aside from the sexual allegations, Slipper is also accused of misusing Cabcharge vouchers. He has announced his resignation from his Speaker post following an investigation. 

He, however, remains hopeful that he will be able take back the speakership in time for the May budget deliberation. 

But that may all change as Windsor withdrew his support. Windsor said he’d prefer it if Slipper does not return to his seat as Speaker. 

The MP clarifies, however, that his statement is not meant as a judgment to Slipper. He said he believes the scandals have impacted on how people see the Parliament and the office of the Speaker. 

The preliminary hearing for Slipper’s cases is set on May 21. The budget deliberation, meanwhile, is scheduled for May 8. Anne Burke temporarily replaces Slipper in the budget deliberation. 

Archbishop John Hepworth, Slipper’s church leader, has also called on the beleaguered Speaker to temporarily relieve his post as the church’s legal officer until he has been cleared of all the charges. 

The Archbishop describes Slipper as “complex.” He admitted that he is also pursuing his own investigation but found no proof to tie his church member to the cases. 

He explained that he knows the complexity of Slipper and that what the public is seeing is just one of his many sides. Hepworth also reiterated that Slipper has denied the moral and sexual wrongdoings.

In a statement he released today, Slipper continues to deny the allegations made against him by former staff James Ashby. He also explained that because the allegations are criminal in nature, he believes that it is not appropriate for him to remain as Speaker.

Labor MP and Deputy Speaker Anna Burke is set to temporarily replace him as Speaker.

Former staff James Ashby filed a formal case again the Speaker. He accused Slipper for making unwanted sexual advances against him, including sending him inappropriate text messages, asking him to massage Slipper, and hiring him specifically to pursue an intimate relationship with the Speaker.

Calls have been growing for Slipper to resign. Earlier, Opposition leader Eric Abetz said Slipper must be removed from parliament. Treasurer Wayne Swan, however, was quick to pacify disgruntled quarters. Swan said that everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. He told the ABC Television that there is a need to respect the legal proceedings.

Swan also fired back at the Opposition, saying the group is using the issue to distract the public from the economic debate.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott, meanwhile, echoed Abetz’s sentiments, saying Prime Minister Julia Gillard should be proactive in restoring the parliament’s integrity. He added that the Prime Minister should make it clear that Slipper that he needs to resign.

Abbot added that Gillard has been washing her hands especially in the case of Craig Thomson, who is under fire for alleged financial mismanagement in Health Services Union.

James Ashby has accused Slipper for allegedly making sexual advances and comments to him. He claims Slipper deliberately hired him so pursue a sexual relationship with him, adding that the Speaker would send kisses via adding the letter X to his text messages.

The 33-year-old male adviser has formally filed a case against the Peter Slipper. James Ashby is asking the court to require Slipper to have counseling and attend anti-discrimination sessions. He also filed a petition that he be compensated by Slipper and the Federal Government.

Ashby also cited in court documents that Slipper asked him to shower with him. Slipper also arranged for a massage after complaining of a sore neck. Ashby said Slipper made moaning noises like he was having an intense sexual pleasure.

It appears that is not the first time that Slipper figured in a sexual scandal. Court documents showed that in 2003, the Speaker was also the subject of a sexual harassment complaint.

Slipper’s former adviser Megan Hobson approached Tony Nutt that she and two other women saw a video of Slipper lying on a bed with another bed. Hobson alleged that the two were hugging in an intimate fashion. Tony Nutt was then John Howard’s senior adviser.

When Hobson told Nutt about the tape, Nutt shrugged it off and told her to forget about it.

Records showed that the Speaker has spent at least $75,000 in travel expenses, which include use of taxis and limousines. He also spent $8,600 on travels to Western Australia and Tasmania.

The News Limited investigation also showed that Slipper went to Brisbane for a one-day visit and racked up $1,000. In January 7, 2011, the Speaker spent $1,500 when he traveled from Queensland to Sydney. The agenda for the said trip was for a scheduled lunch with the English team.

Other data from the Freedom of Information database also showed that $3,000 was spent for limousine and air travel for his visit to Perth last June 1010.

In a separate occasion, taxpayers forked $600 for six taxi fares when the Speaker went to Canberra for a meeting.

Records show that Slipper has a penchant for taking expensive rides. In January 2010, he was serviced by an Avis hire care for $485 when he visited Hobart. He also racked up $900 for limousine travel.

Records from Oakcorp also showed that Slipper had multiple bookings. The limousine company charged $290 for a trip from the Speaker’s home in Sunshine Coast to Brisbane Airport.

The Speaker has been hounded by controversy for years because of the expenses he usually incur when travelling. At one point, he repaid more than $20,000.

Slipper, however, refuted claims of abuse, saying the allegations were disputable interpretation of rules.

Slipper, who is normally seen in his robe and tie at work, was dressed down for the event, even as veterans and other guests from the military came in full uniform. Footage of the gaffe has also been uploaded on YouTube.

The event also included an Iroquois helicopter dedication, which was apparently flown during bad weather conditions during the war to provide ammunition and support for Australian soldiers during the Battle of Long Tan.

According to John Smith, the President of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, the Speaker had mentioned wearing his wig, pomp and robe if he came to the ceremony, so it was a real surprise when he turned up in jeans.

Smith, who is a Long Tan veteran and served under Delta company’s artillery support, made no qualms about expressing that he was horrified by it.

The spokesperson for the Speaker, however, made apologies on his behalf and said that there was no time for Slipper to change into something more appropriate, as he had been travelling from Brisbane. The Speaker went straight to the dedication from the airport.

The spokesperson also said that Mr. Slipper thought it would be best to be on time for the event. The ceremony took place last March 16 at the Caloundra RSL in Queensland.