VICTORIA’S new Government flexed its muscle for the first time yesterday in an attempt to avoid Parliament sitting today, which would have cost taxpayers $380,000.

But Premier Daniel Andrews faced his first defeat with a Coalition-backed candidate elected as President of the Upper House.

The Opposition dared the Government to bring back Parliament on Christmas Eve, when it refused to grant leave to second read three Bills.

Any member of Parliament can deny the Government leave to second read a Bill straight away.

One of the Bills introduced was the Government’s Back to Work Act, which will allow payroll tax relief to businesses who hire unemployed young people, the long-term unemployed and the retrenched.

Parliamentary staff were said to be “furious” by the Opposition’s move, which was eventually called off by the Government.

NEW VICTORIAN CABINET SWORN IN

Manager of Government Business Jacinta Allan slammed the Opposition and said Labor would have no part of the “stunt”.

“Matthew Guy wanted taxpayers to fork out $380,000 to bring Parliament back for his stunt,” Ms Allan said.

Thirty-six new MPs joined returning members to be sworn in at the official opening of the 58th Victorian Parliament in Melbourne after Labor’s election victory last month.

But it wasn’t all pomp and ceremony, with the new Labor Government losing the first vote in the Upper House after its candidate for President, Gayle Tierney, was defeated.

Incumbent President Bruce Atkinson retained his role in the Upper House after he secured the votes of the five Greens MPs and the Sex Party’s Fiona Patten.

Ms Tierney was supported by her Labor colleagues and representatives from the Shooters and Fishers Party, the Democratic Labour Party and Vote 1 Local Jobs.

Greens leader Greg Barber said the Legislative Council had a “big job to scrutinise the Government” and needed a president who was “independent of the Government”.

In the Lower House, former Uruguayan refugee Telmo Languiller was elected Speaker.

Melton MP Don Nardella was elected Deputy Speaker.

State Parliament will return in February.

annika.smethurst@news.com.au