A LABOR MP has delayed an “urgent” eye operation as State Parliament’s new era of cooperation was last night at risk of ending before it began.

Member for Cook Billy Gordon had planned to skip today’s sitting where a lengthy confidence motion will be debated to confirm the minority Palaszczuk Government.

Mr Gordon told the Government’s Leader of the House Stirling Hinchliffe he had been advised by doctors he had a detached retina that required immediate surgery.

With Parliament’s numbers locked tight, Mr Gordon’s absence would have meant Labor not having the numbers to pass the confidence motion on itself.

Rules allow a member to give their proxy to another MP if they can produce two medical certificates but Labor had asked the Opposition if Mr Gordon could “pair” with an LNP MP who would then have agreed not to vote.

media_camera Member for Cook Billy Gordon as the official swearing-in ceremony at State Parliament this week. PIC: Liam Kidston.

It is understood the LNP was concerned over Labor’s push for a pair after Mr Gordon was spotted on a Parliament balcony socialising with colleagues on Tuesday night.

Following furious negotiations behind the scenes, Mr Gordon consulted his doctors and the surgery was delayed until Saturday.

LNP MP Ray Stevens said a proxy vote would have been more appropriate.

Mr Hinchliffe said proxies had rarely been used during the history of the Parliament and pairing was a more widely accepted way to operate.