New behaviour standards are in place for parliament but crossbenchers say question time still rife with bullying | Australian politics

S.Crying behavior standards have been in place in Australia’s parliament for years, but MPs have warned question time is still rife with bullying and a “mob mentality” that needs to be stamped out.

Data from the Office of the Speaker shows that 21 MPs across the Coalition and Labor were excluded 31 times under order 94a during the first six months of the 48th parliament.

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The top three dismissals each include shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien, shadow energy secretary Dan Tehan and shadow attorney general Andrew Wallace.

Tehan said the government had rarely answered questions, particularly about its 2022 election promise to cut electricity bills by $275, and called on cross-raters to “do more to hold them to account”. A spokesman for O’Brien said he took his responsibilities seriously and would continue to “hold this bad government to account”.

Wallace said it was no surprise that shadow ministers for energy, law and economy were leading the charge, adding that he would not sit quietly “while this desperate Labor government destroys Australians’ living standards, energy affordability and safety and security”.

“They can take me out of the discussion any day, but I will continue to fight for my community and the people of Australia every day I am given the honor of serving them,” he said.

Under this order, a member is directed by the speaker to leave the hall for one hour for “disorderly” conduct; this is an instruction that cannot be ignored or disputed without resulting in a longer suspension.

But MP Zali Steggall said it was not always clear who the culprits were and in some cases it could be an entire section of a political party.

In 2024, Steggall was involved in a heated incident with then opposition leader Peter Dutton, who intervened after he spoke against a motion to suspend standing orders on a Gaza-related issue and told him to “stop being a racist” in parliament before retracting his comment.

Steggall said the opposition’s “barrage of shouts and exclamations” was akin to “mob mentality” and that they were “clearly trying to harass me, intimidate me and silence me”.

“This is disrespectful, and respect does not show respect for the safety of others in the room. In any other workplace, this would be considered illegal behavior,” he said.

“We see this mafia mentality from the outside from time to time. [Albanese] government too. “You see Labor backbenchers heckling and shouting at other members.”

Current opposition leader Sussan Ley has previously defended rebelliousness during question time as “passion”.

The independent member for Warringah, who is serving her third term, said she wants the speaker of parliament to be given more power to suspend MPs for “intimidating, abusive or bullying behaviour”. Steggall suggested that standing orders could be changed so that party leaders were held accountable for disobedience in the backbenches, or even expelled the entire party for a period of time.

“MPs need to lead by example. Freedom of expression should be encouraged in our workplace but this cannot be used to excuse harmful behavior and disorderly conduct,” Steggall said.

House speaker Milton Dick said he would like to see fewer people leaving the chamber due to disorderly conduct.

“But ultimately, if people are preventing others from speaking their words, that’s when I will enforce this standing order,” Dick said.

“I think every single person in that room deserves to have their voice heard because ultimately they represent about 120,000 voices.”

The number of expulsions of 94a has varied over recent parliaments, but some are quick to point out that it depends on the patience or impartiality of the speaker.

Data between the 43rd Parliament and the 48th Parliament, which began in 2010, show a clear trend; Regardless of who is in opposition, the most members are likely to be expelled.

Steggall’s colleague on the floor, Kate Chaney, said question time in particular was the “public face” of parliament.

“It’s great that we finally have a code of conduct, like every other workplace in Australia, but it won’t build trust with politicians if it’s not valid when the public is watching,” Chaney said.

“Treating each other with ‘dignity, kindness, fairness and respect’ does not preclude robust debate.”

The federal parliament passed a law workplace code of conduct In 2023, this is being enforced through sanctions by an independent watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. Behavior in the room is not subject to change.

Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown said the question period was “a huge waste of time”, describing Dorothy Dixers, a supporter of the government who gave softball questions to the department, as a particular bogeyman.

“Politicians are paid huge salaries and hours spent listening to Dorothy Dixers congratulate the government seems like a complete misuse of taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“I would absolutely support meaningful reform to challenge the time to turn it into a real question-and-answer session that would actually hold the government accountable.”