First the derogatory nickname used for the Labor Leader of the Opposition was ruled a description then in the next breath It was not a description.
Either way the new Speaker found using a nickname was not unparliamentary, despite such use appearing to fly in the face of at least two sections of House of Representatives Standing and Sessional Orders** which were not included in those government amendments to these orders that were voted in at 12.44pm on 13 November 2013.
Excerpt from House Of Representatives Hansard of 13 November 2013:
Mr PYNE
(Sturt—Minister for Education) (09:22): The reason standing orders should not
be suspended on this occasion is that the coalition won the election two
months ago and today we want to introduce the carbon tax repeal bills. On
the draft daily program, the carbon tax repeal bills are listed for debate.
Labor has demonstrated for the last 20 minutes that they will do anything
to stand in the way of lowering electricity prices in this country.
'Electricity Bill' Shorten, as his
first political act in the parliament, has desired to get his Manager of
Opposition Business to block the repeal of the carbon tax.
Mr Burke:
I rise on a point of order. A large number of comments were made yesterday
about people being referred to by correct titles.To have the Leader of the
House immediately abrogating that is inappropriate and his comment should
be withdrawn.
The SPEAKER:
The Leader of the House was not addressing a member by any title; he was merely
using a description and I do not find the term unparliamentarily. [sic]
Mr Burke:
On the point of order, Madam Speaker, I am not sure whether you heard the
description that was given—
The SPEAKER:
It was not a description.
Mr Burke:
but what we had was something that even the Prime Minister yesterday
acknowledged could not be used within the chamber.
The SPEAKER:
I have already ruled on the point of order and you are raising the matter a
second time.
**
In the House and the Federation
Chamber, a Member shall not be referred to by name, but by one of the following
forms, as appropriate:
(a) the Member’s ministerial office (e.g.
Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, Attorney-General);
(b) the Member’s parliamentary office
(e.g. Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, Chief Government Whip);
(c) the Member’s electoral division (e.g.
Member for Adelaide).
89 Offensive words
A Member must not use offensive words against:
(a) either House of the Parliament or a Member of the Parliament;
or
(b) a member of the
Judiciary.
Note:
The new Nationals Member for Page was in the Chamber and voted with other Government MPs to gag debate on the Speaker's ruling.
1 comment:
Hasn't any journo ever noticed that in her entire time in Opposition Bronnie rarely had a point of order go in her favour - she has no idea of custom, precedent or standing orders.
She must be an embarrassment to her more knowledgeable colleagues and to her family.
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