Labor’s Caucus will meet tomorrow for the first time after a high-profile spat between two of its own and Martin Hamilton-Smith’s stunning defection to Jay Weatherill’s cabinet.

Two weeks ago Labor MPs were angered when outgoing Legislative Council president John Gazzola launched an extraordinary attack on his successor, Russell Wortley, whom he described as a “parasite”.

The attack, later recanted in Parliament by Gazzola, took the wind out of an ebullient Caucus’s sails and sparked speculation that Gazzola would be booted from Caucus.

InDaily understands that Caucus is now unlikely to take action against Gazzola, with the dominant Right faction keen to move on from the damaging episode.

MPs will also have their first chance as a group to hear from Premier Weatherill about Hamilton-Smith’s defection to the Labor Cabinet to take on the portfolios of Investment and Trade, Defence Industries and Veterans’ Affairs.

The move has been welcomed by the pragmatic members of Caucus who see it as a significant strengthening of Labor’s hand.

In fact, InDaily has been unable to unearth any criticism of the development within Caucus.

It’s a week of firsts for Hamilton-Smith, who attended his first Cabinet meeting this morning.

Weatherill, who is ill, wasn’t there to welcome him.

Tomorrow, he will face his first Parliamentary grilling as a minister.

He did hold two portfolios, briefly, in the Kerin Liberal Government from December 2001 to March 2002, but never faced a Parliamentary question time.

Tomorrow’s question time will be hostile, given the white-hot anger of Liberals, from leader Steven Marshall down to the newest MPs.

Hamilton-Smith, from his new spot on the Government’s side of the chamber, can expect to hear many of his own words repeated – specifically, his past scathing critiques of Weatherill and Labor.

Behind the scenes, Hamilton-Smith has been attempting to extricate himself from the media frenzy to engage with his actual ministerial work.

Parliament this week, while offering the blowtorch of question time, will also give him some moments to receive additional briefings from bureaucrats and digest the copious briefing documents he has already received.