Is there going to be an outbreak of Underbelly violence in the Legislative Assembly ? Dressed in black , like a member of the dreaded Black Hand Gang, Speaker Jane Aagaard, wielder of a mean gavel, who can cut off your capacity to speak , has threatened to use the slipper on troublesome members of the house.
The shock news came during question time when she became angered by interjections. In particular, she warned the Member for Greatorex , Matt Conlan , CLP, and reminded him , and others, of Standing Order 51 which says answers should be given without loud interruptions , interjections, raspberries , sniggers and so forth.
If members did not comply with this provision , Ms Aagaard said she may "take a leaf out of fellow colleague , Speaker Slipper’s book." Peter Slipper , affectionately known to his former Liberal Party colleagues as The Rat , and so depicted in News Limited blats , its rabid reporters writhing and writing under the influence of Rupert’s Rid Rat and Ranga , is the new umpire in the House of Representatives .
The shock news came during question time when she became angered by interjections. In particular, she warned the Member for Greatorex , Matt Conlan , CLP, and reminded him , and others, of Standing Order 51 which says answers should be given without loud interruptions , interjections, raspberries , sniggers and so forth.
If members did not comply with this provision , Ms Aagaard said she may "take a leaf out of fellow colleague , Speaker Slipper’s book." Peter Slipper , affectionately known to his former Liberal Party colleagues as The Rat , and so depicted in News Limited blats , its rabid reporters writhing and writing under the influence of Rupert’s Rid Rat and Ranga , is the new umpire in the House of Representatives .
Ms Aagaard said Slipper’s refreshing new habit of asking members to withdraw from the chamber without a warning was a " very good idea. " Blustering gasbag Joe Hockey, Shadow Treasurer, was the first to be booted out of the House of Reps without a warning , a move which endeared Speaker Slipper to many right thinking Australians. Slipper has also added to the majesty of parliament by doing a parade , the mace going ahead , born by the Serjeant–at- Arms , so that the public get a closer look at democracy in action , here in the l8th century .
It is sincerely hoped that Speaker Aagaard emulates this walkabout idea of comrade Slipper. A stroll through The Mall , preceded by someone hefty enough to carry the heavy mace , pausing to dong a few cane toads along the way with the weapon, would impress tourists. It could be our equivalent of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
