The Rudd government has scuttled an opposition attempt to censure it over its refusal to assist pensioners immediately.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull tried to move a motion condemning Labor "for being out of touch, out of its depth and out of the country".
"In particular, that the government be condemned for its complete indifference to the plight of Australian pensioners who are struggling on a daily basis to meet the rising costs of petrol, groceries and rent," Mr Turnbull told parliament.
He also attacked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for becoming "Kevin 747" and spending too much time overseas.
But Labor used its numbers to silence Mr Turnbull, then his deputy Julie Bishop and frontbencher Joe Hockey.
Government leader in the house Anthony Albanese described the move as the most pathetic motion - to suspend standing orders - in parliamentary history since federation (1901).