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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 1 Hansard (22 February) . . Page.. 153 ..

Mr Hird: What other parliament does that?

MS McRAE: Every other parliament, Mr Hird. Every other parliament has attendants in far greater number and a far greater level of security than we have here. This is a completely different style of parliament from any other parliament I challenge you to find in Australia.

Mr Kaine: Oh, is it?

Mr Hird: Do you want to do away with the Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MS McRAE: No. Grave disorder does not require the Speaker to manage the general public. That is what I wish the Administration and Procedure Committee to have a cool-headed look at, and also a good look at the definition of grave disorder. Within that comes the whole nature of the Speaker's involvement with the general public. I think there is plenty of scope for the Administration and Procedure Committee to have a look at that because, if it is the general feeling that the general public can come in and engage with the Speaker, then it is a quite different process from parliamentarians engaged in debate through the Speaker, asking questions and being involved in their day-to-day work.

If it is the general impression that anybody can wander in, comment and interject and have the Speaker respond, then we are not dealing with a parliament with a Speaker in charge of the parliament; we are dealing with a Speaker in charge of anybody who happens to walk through the door, and I do not think that brings any credit to us, it does not do the general public any good, and it does not do the workings of the Assembly any good. We are then the captive of the Speaker's decisions as to when the Assembly should be suspended under the current standing order, and I think that the Assembly ought to have a bit of a say in that.

There are differing opinions about what happened yesterday and I am not going to canvass those. The Administration and Procedure Committee can have a look at that; but, quite clearly, it was with the Government's agreement that the Assembly was suspended yesterday. In this situation I do not find it acceptable. I think the rest of the Assembly ought to have a say, and in some circumstances it is appropriate that the Assembly ought to have a say about when its proceedings are closed.

This Assembly is not here for the good health of the Chief Minister or the Government. It is here for 17 members, and the Speaker's role is to interpret the will of 17 members, not six, not one side. I make by that no accusatory comment; I am saying that that was the impression that was given yesterday. I think that it is beholden on us, through the Administration and Procedure Committee, to look at the standing order so that our Speaker is protected from the requirements of the Government. If a government is feeling testy about proceedings, all it needs to do now is to call in 10 people to applaud Rosemary Follett and they can close down the Assembly. That was the impression that was given yesterday.

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