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KEY Cabinet ministers delivered a withering attack on fellow minister Mark Arbib last night, accusing him of undermining the Prime Minister with his public support for gay marriage.
In growing signs of disunity within Labor, several Cabinet ministers accused Mr Arbib of disloyalty at a meeting of the party's national Right faction.
Mr Arbib, a powerbroker and former faction leader, was pivotal in sacking Kevin Rudd and promoting Ms Gillard.
But last week he became the first minister to defy the PM, calling for the party's opposition to gay marriage to be overturned and a conscience vote to be taken in Parliament.
Senior sources at last night's meeting in Canberra said the Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Trade Minister Craig Emerson accused Mr Arbib of "ill-discipline" and undermining Ms Gillard.
Other right-wing NSW MPs Steve Hutchens and Joel Fitzgibbon accused Mr Arbib of speaking outside his portfolio and warned of the consequences for the Government.
"It was a withering attack," said one source at the meeting.
"No one defended him. It was regarded as a massive lack of discipline in speaking outside his portfolio.
"He has directly gone against the PM and the agreed process on this issue, which is the national conference."
Ms Gillard's office was said to have asked Mr Emerson to warn MPs about speaking publicly in support of gay marriage. The meeting revealed a bitter division emerging over the issue.
Read more: Anonym zu www.news.com.au/national/poll-finds-53-per-cent-of-australians-support-same-sex-marriage/story-e6frfkvr-1225953981801#ixzz15R9MfMy3
In growing signs of disunity within Labor, several Cabinet ministers accused Mr Arbib of disloyalty at a meeting of the party's national Right faction.
Mr Arbib, a powerbroker and former faction leader, was pivotal in sacking Kevin Rudd and promoting Ms Gillard.
But last week he became the first minister to defy the PM, calling for the party's opposition to gay marriage to be overturned and a conscience vote to be taken in Parliament.
Senior sources at last night's meeting in Canberra said the Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Trade Minister Craig Emerson accused Mr Arbib of "ill-discipline" and undermining Ms Gillard.
Other right-wing NSW MPs Steve Hutchens and Joel Fitzgibbon accused Mr Arbib of speaking outside his portfolio and warned of the consequences for the Government.
"It was a withering attack," said one source at the meeting.
"No one defended him. It was regarded as a massive lack of discipline in speaking outside his portfolio.
"He has directly gone against the PM and the agreed process on this issue, which is the national conference."
Ms Gillard's office was said to have asked Mr Emerson to warn MPs about speaking publicly in support of gay marriage. The meeting revealed a bitter division emerging over the issue.
Read more: Anonym zu www.news.com.au/national/poll-finds-53-per-cent-of-australians-support-same-sex-marriage/story-e6frfkvr-1225953981801#ixzz15R9MfMy3