House debates

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Questions to the Speaker

Parliamentary Behaviour

3:13 pm

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

At risk of adding to the total, I should note that 18 people being ejected in one question time is an all-time record since Federation.

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

On the point of order, it is very apparent, and the Australian public should know, that the Labor Party have run a deliberate strategy of ejection from the House today. They have deliberately attempted to be thrown out, and if they intend to continue to behave like idiots then they will deserve to be thrown out. And trying to now make a political point out of it is so transparent and so pathetic. They are so transparent. They have so few members left because you told them all to get thrown out, and now you want to try to make the point that the Speaker has thrown your people out. We are behaving and you are not.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I would simply say to the Manager of Opposition Business that the behaviour today was an absolute disgrace. Looking at the list, I can see that quite a few of them are indeed Victorian members, who perhaps wish to go back and campaign. Others may wish to have early planes, but there was a deliberate campaign of noise and disruption, and I am fortunate in having standing order 94(a) with which to deal with it, otherwise it means naming people and taking up the time of the House. Simply to stand there and try to say that you all behaved like little angels and that you were picked on is pathetic.

Opposition Member:

An opposition member interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

You did. That was your inference—

An opposition member: Not at all.

and I simply will not bear it.

Photo of Tanya PlibersekTanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

Most biased Speaker ever!

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Sydney is reflecting on the chair and will withdraw.

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

You are appalling.

Photo of Tanya PlibersekTanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

You are a real piece of work.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will also withdraw.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting

The member for Isaacs will desist!

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, the campaign continues from the opposition; but, if it assists the House, I withdraw.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

At every moment there was nothing but disrespect and there was nothing but noise—and a wall of noise. It was quite deliberately done.