Recriminations have begun after the Federal Government lost three consecutive votes in the Lower House on Thursday, which almost saw the endorsement of a banking royal commission.

Key points: The Coalition holds a majority of 76 seats, while Labor has 69

The Coalition holds a majority of 76 seats, while Labor has 69 Labor surprised the Government by voting against Parliament adjourning at its usual time of 4:30pm

Labor surprised the Government by voting against Parliament adjourning at its usual time of 4:30pm Opposition then won three votes, bringing forward the royal commission motion

Labor outmanoeuvred the Government and won a procedural vote in the House of Representatives, which former prime minister Tony Abbott said would be a learning curve for many people, including Malcolm Turnbull.

"All of us are learning lessons all the time, whether you're a journalist, a Member of Parliament, a whip or even a Prime Minister," Mr Abbott said.

Three senior ministers, Peter Dutton, Michael Keenan and Christian Porter, were not in the House when the Opposition surprised the Government with its tactics, by voting against Parliament adjourning at its usual time of 4:30pm.

Mr Porter arrived for the second vote, but Mr Dutton did not return until the fourth, when the Government regained control of the House.

A spokeswoman for Justice Minister Michael Keenan said he was on a plane to Melbourne for an event and was asked to fly back to Canberra last night to meet with the Prime Minister.

It is the first time a majority government has lost a vote in the House in decades, demonstrating how difficult managing the 45th Parliament will be.

MP's sum up evening as 'shenanigans' and 'silly buggers'

Coalition MP Ken Wyatt said the Government could have dealt with the situation better and there was a clear message that MPs should "not leave until the House is adjourned".

"It's got nothing to do with stability, it's got to do with shenanigans," Mr Wyatt said.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie summed up the evening as "silly buggers".

Mr Hastie said he did not know who was to blame, but the Coalition needed to be "more disciplined".

Sorry, this video has expired MPs respond to Labor 'wake-up call'

His colleague Trent Zimmerman said: "It's not the type of thing you want to have happen in the first week".

Labor's Tim Watts denied the back and forth was a stunt, while his colleague Michael Danby said it was a "legitimate political tactic".

Fellow Labor MP Wayne Swan said the evening proved the Government was a "shambles".

Liberal Russell Broadbent said the events of Thursday night would not be forgotten quickly.

"There'll be a few people that will rue this day and remember this day for the rest of their political careers," Mr Broadbent said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 8 minutes 10 seconds 8 m Mitch Fifield on the Government losing votes in the Lower House

How it unfolded

The Coalition holds a majority of 76 seats, while Labor has 69.

Labor was pressing to pass a motion calling on the Government to hold a banking royal commission.

It surprised the Government with its tactics, by voting against Parliament adjourning at its usual time of 4:30pm.

The Opposition then won a second and third vote while a number of Government MPs were absent, which effectively brought forward the royal commission motion.

The fourth, which would be the vote on the motion itself, saw Speaker Tony Smith exercise his casting vote for the continuation of debate.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the tactics amounted to a "stunt".

"What we're seeing here this afternoon Mr Speaker is a stunt, a stunt from an Opposition to promote their stunt which is the royal commission," Mr Morrison said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Opposition successfully moved a Senate motion calling for the probe into financial sector wrongdoing, despite resistance from the Coalition.

The Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the House of Representatives Labor would not back down.

"We will never give up on this royal commission," Mr Shorten said.

"We may succeed tonight or we may not, but I give the Government fair notice on behalf of people who want justice."