Independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott showed they are glued on to the despised Gillard government with their support on a crucial vote in the House of Representatives today.

The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams said the Opposition had sought to have the Member for Dobell Craig Thomson make a statement to the House concerning allegations that currently surround him.

But the Member for New England Mr. Windsor and the Member for Lyne Mr.Oakeshott voted with the government to defeat an Opposition motion to suspend standing orders to have Mr. Thomson make the statement.

Senator Williams said this makes a mockery of any claim by Mr. Windsor and Mr. Oakeshott that they put Labor into power for transparency. When it comes to the crunch, they stand next to Prime Minister Julia Gillard every time.

“They should be ashamed to call themselves Independent. The true Independents are Andrew Wilkie and Bob Katter who, in the interests of having this matter brought to a head and let the Australian people hear from the Member for Dobell, supported the Opposition”, Senator Williams said.