Rebel government backbencher George Christensen has crossed the floor and voted with Labor to protect workers' penalty rates, in an embarrassing blow to the Turnbull government.
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It is extremely rare for MPs to cross the floor and vote against their own side, but Mr Christensen's move has been a long time coming, as he has threatened to do so on previous occasions.
On Tuesday night, the Queensland MP initially abstained when Labor attempted to amend the Turnbull government's Fair Work Amendment bill so that it protected workers' take-home pay.
But Labor then put forward Mr Christensen's own amendment to that bill, which is designed to stop the Fair Work Commission's order to cut penalty rates.
At that point, Mr Christensen crossed the floor to vote for his own bill and side with the opposition.
The vote on that amendment was, however, was still lost 72-73, in line with the Turnbull government's razor-thin, one-seat majority.
Speaking to Fairfax Media after the vote, Mr Christensen said that he still supported the Turnbull government and that no more should be read into his decision.
"I support the Turnbull government, I am a member of the Turnbull government, I voted on the issue, not on confidence in the government," he said.
"I talked to a lot of locals who are concerned about penalty rate cuts, and to small businesses concerned there is not an even or level playing field between big and small business. The private members bill I put forward deals with the Fair Work Commission issue, but also makes sure there is a level playing field between big business - which gets sweetheart union deals - and small business."
However, his move will unnerve senior figures in the Turnbull government because of the their one-seat majority. It can also be read as a clear signal that Mr Christensen is prepared to go against his own side in future, and that he cannot be taken for granted.
Mr Christensen has never crossed the floor to vote against the Turnbull government, but he has at times been an outspoken critic of it on a range of issues.
When the Coalition was in opposition, he did cross the floor to vote against the Coalition and with cross-bench MP Bob Katter on a bill.
Cuts to weekend penalty rates in several industries will be phased in over the next four years, and will begin next month.
Last week, Labor had hoped Mr Christensen would cross the floor and team up with the opposition and cross bench to support a commission of inquiry into the major banks.
At the crunch moment he sided with the government, under pressure from Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and other senior MPs, prompting Labor leader Bill Shorten to label him a lion in his home town of Mackay, and a mouse in Canberra.
