Parliamentary Procedure

PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS

The SPEAKER (14:17): Members, last sitting week we saw some of the worst behaviour in this chamber that we have seen in a long time and I have had enough. I believe our electors have also had enough. They expect us to behave in this place with decorum, with respect and to do the business that we are here for, and not engage in petty quarrelling, pointscoring and disorder. Standing order 144 says:

The Speaker is responsible for the orderly conduct of proceedings of the house and for maintaining its decorum and dignity.

From today, I will be taking stronger action to ensure that members in this place are better behaved. I will remove members who are disorderly under sessional orders, and they will be told to leave the chamber for periods of up to one hour. I will also, if the behaviour warrants it, name people on some occasions without warnings. We will not have frivolous points of order; we will not have quarrels across the floor; we will not have name-calling; and we will not have continuous background noise when ministers are answering questions. Questions will be in order and answers will relate to the substance of the question. The Premier stated at the beginning of this parliament that standards will improve. These standards will apply to both sides of the house.