Victoria's controversial bill to split the Country Fire Authority has been voted DOWN after the state opposition reneged on parliamentary pairing arrangements at the eleventh hour. #springst
For those playing at home - Liberal MPs Craig Ondarchie and Bernie Finn were provided a pairing for religious reasons - meaning two Labor MPs absented themselves from parliament.
BUT they walked back into the Legislative Council on Good Friday to vote against the changes. The bill was defeated 19-18.
More to come on @AAPNewswire sbs.com.au/news/vic-fire-…
An explainer if you don't know what pairing is (I didn't either until about 10:30am today) 9news.com.au/national/2018/… 
One of the MPs that got granted a pairing says he didn't anticipate he'd be back at Parliament "this side of Easter" but "received a call requesting my presence in the Chamber for one vote. I drove into Parliament, voted, then left" #springst
