Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been calling Shorten Electricity Bill for days on the basis that Labors opposition to the repeal of the carbon tax will add to consumers power bills. But when he was pressed on Tuesday on whether the put-down was in keeping with the promise of a more civil political discourse, he replied: Well, it would probably be ruled out of order in the Parliament, I accept that, and obviously when Im in the Parliament I am subject to the standing orders as interpreted by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, or Madam Speaker, I probably should say. This should have been a hint to colleagues to show some restraint when the real business of the 44th Parliament began. As Abbott said when Bishop was elevated to the post on Tuesday: When any of us are tempted to be low, mean or petty, the member for Mackellar is well equipped to recall us to our duty. This Parliament will be a different one and a better one, I hope. But, frustrated that Labor was seeking to delay the introduction of the carbon tax repeal legislation by bringing on a debate about the Governments secrecy on its policy to stop the boats, Pyne led the counter-attack and quickly branded Shorten Electricity Bill. When Tony Burke, in the new role of key Labor tactician in the House, demanded that he withdraw, he was initially ridiculed for not being as sharp on parliamentary practice as his predecessor, Anthony Albanese. He then demonstrated that he is a very worthy replacement. Abbott appeared to concede as much when he initiated a private chat with Shorten. The new Speaker probably allowed the epithet because it is at the lower end of the spectrum of parliamentary insults. This was a mistake, and Burke made a compelling case that it is contrary to the bold print in standing order 64, which requires MPs to refer to each other only by their title, and the promise of higher standards. When his repeated requests for Bishop to reconsider were rebuffed, he moved dissent from the Speakers ruling. Significantly, rather than mount a defence of the Speakers ruling, Pyne then moved to gag any argument. Read more:
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 03:30:53 +0000
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