The Wire

To see a politician cross the floor and vote against their party is a pretty rare sight, or so you might think, given the furore that greeted Queensland National Senator Barnaby Joyce cross to the other side. But did you know that in the last 50 years or so, over 240 MPs have crossed the floor? But how much sway does a floor crosser have? Do they always make a difference? And what happens to habitual crossers? With more floor crossings expected, as the government’s more controversial bills hit parliament, Elise Potaka spoke with Professor John Warhurst. He’s a political analyst and floor crossing expert from the Australian National University.