Members

Members' Remarks

The SPEAKER (11:01): I wish to make a few remarks about reflections on the Speaker. I use this opportunity to remind all members about reflections on the Speaker by way of comments made by members outside the house and in the media.

Following the precedent set by the Speaker of the Forty-Eighth Parliament on the interpretation of standing orders, which is found in Hansard on page 563 in the Third Session of the Parliament on 16 November 1995, I make the following observations, referring to Speaker Lewis’s statement to the house on 8 May 2002 at page 30 of Hansard,concerning reflections on the Speaker:

The honourable member will be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 137.

For brevity, I go on and paraphrase:

[He] has reflected on [the] Speaker...the dignity of the house and the impartiality of the Chair. Our system operates effectively only if there is respect for the Chair by all members. I refer to Erskine May…

'Reflections upon the character or actions of the Speaker may be punishable as a breach of privilege.'

This unprecedented attack brings the whole parliamentary institution into disrepute and, as Speaker, I do not intend to tolerate this behaviour.

Speaker Lewis then quotes other rulings of the Speaker of the Forty-Eighth Parliament, from Tuesday 27 May 1997 at page 1404 of Hansard, and, for brevity, I again paraphrase:

In relation to the recent press reports about the contents and correspondence to me concerning the member for Ridley which have caused embarrassment…I believe the member for Ridley has seriously reflected on me as Speaker, and I have no option but to name the member for Ridley.

I warn members that remarks and criticism of the Speaker will be dealt with with far less tolerance and that there will be far less generosity shown by me from now on. I advise the house that I will be guided by the practices and ruling made by previous Speakers in this house.