‘I did what was right’: Liberal rebel Fiona Martin on the change that sank the religious discrimination bill

Liberal MP Fiona Martin provided the decisive third vote to sink Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination bill. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

There were five Liberal MPs who crossed the floor to protect LGBTQ+ students against discrimination but the one who tipped the balance is now being accused of breaching a commitment not to defeat the government.

It was the member for Reid, Fiona Martin, who most shocked her colleagues when she crossed the floor shortly before dawn on Thursday to add protections that would result in the entire religious discrimination bill being shelved.