Sue Lines (President) Share this | Hansard source

Senators, during question time yesterday Minister Gallagher asked to review rulings about the quotation of coarse language and consider how they should apply, in relation to questions being asked by Senator McKenzie. President Parry made a statement to the Senate on the matter on 29 February 2016, which was adopted by President Ryan on 14 November 2019. Both statements recognise the very long practice of the Senate that quoting another source does not allow a senator to bypass the normal rules in relation to unparliamentary language.

President Parry indicated, firstly, that quoting something does not provide a shield for inappropriate language; secondly, that he was concerned about the language being used; and, thirdly, that he was also concerned about the rights of senators to express what they want to express. On balance, he determined that he would not require the withdrawal of the language used on that occasion.

President Ryan summarised President Parry's statement in this way:

If offensive language is used in relation to a protected person—

that is, in relation to senators and members and other persons mentioned in standing order 193—

it is completely out of order and will be required to be withdrawn. When no protected person is involved, however, and where a senator quoting such language maintains that it is strictly necessary to make the point, it makes it very difficult for the chair to prevent a senator from quoting such language or to require its withdrawal. This is the burden of President Parry's ruling of February 2016. If senators choose to enter this territory, they do so at their own responsibility.

I've tried to take the same approach here. Senators would have heard me ask Senator McKenzie to withdraw a word when she used it as an audible interjection, and I thank Senator McKenzie for withdrawing. But I allowed the use of the term as part of a quotation in Senator McKenzie's questions. I do wonder whether it was strictly necessary for Senator McKenzie to quote the term in each of her questions, when I consider that the senator made the point with her first quote. I intend to take the same approach as my predecessors and leave it to Senator McKenzie to consider her language on future occasions. In doing so, I also adopt the final part of President Ryan's statement, where he reminded senators:

… a point can be made and a particular word can be alluded to without actually using it.

Furthermore, I remind senators that people are watching and we regularly have large numbers of schoolchildren watching question time here. I urge senators to keep this in mind.