INDEPENDENT MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott have backed a Gillard government after Bob Katter sided with the Coalition.

Mr Katter said he would respect Mr Windsor`s and Mr Oakeshott`s  decision on which of the two major parties to back.

“They have very moral convictions and they will follow through on those convictions," he told reporters inside his office at  Parliament House.

"I will most certainly respect whatever decision they make." 

Mr Katter said he had not told Prime Minister Julia Gillard or Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of his decision before calling the press conference.

"I haven`t told anybody at all," he said.

Mr Oakeshott said he had fielded an offer of either becoming speaker or a minister in the Gillard Government, but declined to give details.

“It is separate to any consideration in this whatsoever," he said.

“I don`t want to be someone who gives up the confidence of  discussions.”

Mr Windsor said he would not be speaker or a minister in the Gillard government.

“No and no," he said in answer to a reporter's question.

Mr Windsor said the final decision was made early on Tuesday morning.

“We talked through a range of issues and I think it was probably  01.30am (AEST) that we actually reached a decision," he said.

“In the end I think for both of us... We've both lived our  political lives being able to sleep at night.

“In the end it came to me that I thought, I'm comfortable with  this, I can live with this."

 

Share this article