Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The government lost a series of votes before the motion came to a final vote. By that time, Mr Dutton and Mr Porter had returned to the chamber to tie the vote 71-71. Crossbenchers Andrew Wilkie, Bob Katter and Rebekha Sharkie voted with Labor. By tradition, Speaker Tony Smith was forced to use his casting vote to side with Labor and allow debate to continue - forcing MPs to remain in the chamber and enabling the opposition to keep up its push for a royal commission. "We will never, never, never give up seeking justice for the victims of banks and financial services," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten thundered from the despatch box. "We will never, never give up seeking a banking royal commission." Mr Keenan's whereabouts were unknown, but he was assumed to have boarded a flight back to his electorate in Perth.

The blame-game began immediately, with some absent ministers under the impression they had been given permission to leave for the day by Leader of the House Christopher Pyne. Mr Pyne denied that claim, with a spokesman saying nobody had been given permission to leave before the Parliament was adjourned. Other sources contended the mix-up was the fault of the whips. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has repeatedly trumpeted his "working majority" after the worse-than-expected election result, but Thursday's shenanigans demonstrate that a one-seat majority can be precarious. Labor revelled in the chaos, claiming it was the first time a government had lost a vote on the floor of the House in more than 50 years. "Malcolm Turnbull told Australians he had a 'very solid working majority'. It took just two sitting days for this stable majority to collapse," said Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke.

He repeated former prime minister Tony Abbott's words that the government was "in office, but not in power". Other Liberal figures called for recriminations. Peter Phelps, former government whip in the NSW upper house, said the situation was "a cluster of massive proportions" and "somebody needs to be sacked". The Menzies government lost several votes in 1962 when it governed with a one-seat majority, the same size as Mr Turnbull's. According to the House of Representatives Practice: "It has been claimed that the loss of control of the business of the House is a matter over which governments should resign." "During 1962 and 1963, when the Menzies government had a floor majority of one, it suffered a number of defeats and, although it did not resign, its precarious majority was a factor which led to the early dissolution of the House."

As Thursday evening wore on, a number of speakers debated the motion including Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, a hoarse-sounding Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen. In his contribution to the debate, Mr Bowen singled out Fairfax Media reporter Adele Ferguson for her investigations into unscrupulous practices by banks. "But she can only do so much," he said. Shortly before 7pm, Mr Pyne moved that the debate be adjourned. That motion was eventually won 73-72 at 7.20pm. Independent MP Cathy McGowan, a supporter of the royal commission, was driving back home to regional Victoria but turned around and headed back to Parliament House as the kerfuffle unfolded. She missed the final vote by a matter of seconds - if she had made it back in time, the final vote would have been drawn 73-73.

- with Latika Bourke, Tom McIlroy, Matthew Knott Follow us on Twitter