Slouching, using mobile phones and turning backs on people speaking to you.
These are all things a group of crossbench MPs have labelled “disrespectful” and want changed during Question Time – with a direct call to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to do better.
High-profile independents Zali Steggall, Helen Haines and Rebekha Sharkie have thrown their support behind an agenda created by think tank the Australia Institute, which includes a ban on political fundraising events at Parliament House, along with creating a federal corruption watchdog with teeth.
But they also want standards raised during Question Time – the period of a sitting day where ministers are asked questions without notice.
That means a limit of five Dorothy Dixers – rehearsed or planted questions to ministers by government backbenchers.
And they want to get rid of questions that include the line “alternative approaches”.
This practice essentially gives the government a free kick in slamming the opposition without saying anything productive.
The trio are also pushing for a trial restricting phone use during this period of the day.
On Thursday, about 20 MPs were seen on their mobile phones during Question Time.
And in the wake of Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson labelling Mr Morrison “a bully” this week, Ms Steggall called on him to improve his behaviour.
She – along with Ms Haines and Ms Sharkie – said that they had not personally experienced any bullying and had always had “professional” meetings with Mr Morrison.
But Ms Steggall said she wasn’t impressed with his behaviour, labelling it “disrespectful”.
“I would make note of his conduct in question time and in the chamber, the use of gagging debate and the habit he has of turning his back on those of the opposition or the crossbench,” Ms Stegall said.
“These are not traits that show respect.
“As Prime Minister of the nation, you have a duty upon you to be of a higher standard and to show respect for all whether you agree with their viewpoint or not.”
She later told ABC’s Q&A she was shocked by the conduct she had seen in the chamber of the House of Representatives.
“The slouching, the turning your back to people speaking to you, I think there’s images of the Prime Minister making fun and turning his back to the debate,” she said.
“It is disrespectful, some of the language used in parliament, some of the throwaway lines, are disrespectful and not becoming of a person in that role.”
She said people would be surprised to learn there’s no code of conduct for parliamentarians.
“A sportsperson is pulled up by a code of conduct if you bring the sport into disrepute, and we have nothing in parliament,” she said.
“I find that quite shocking.
“And we know from last year, with the allegations, that parliament has a culture problem.
“ We have a workplace problem.
“And it has to come from the top – change has to come from the top.
“Respect, better standards. And I think it is an indictment on the Prime Minister that so many – including the Deputy Prime Minister – made comments as well about the Prime Minister’s character.”
Earlier this year it was revealed Barnaby Joyce had once called Mr Morrison a “liar” after a text message sent in March 2021 was leaked.
REFORMS THEY WANT INCLUDED
• Increasing the number of parliamentarians by 50 per cent
• Increase the number of sitting days but make them shorter
• Creating clearer rules with what needs to be disclosed by parliamentarians and have ministerial diaries made public
• Adopt fixed three-year terms for parliament providing more certainty around election dates
• Reforms to question time, including just five Dorothy Dixers a day and a trial on restricting the use of mobile phones
• Make sure that private member’s motions and bills are always scheduled for a vote
• Introduce remote voting in the house of representatives and the senate
• No fundraising exjmtzywvents to be held in Parliament House
• Require a parliamentary vote before Australians are deployed overseas for war
• More scrutiny of government advertising
• Changing the appointment process for the ABC Board, so it is not done on the advice of a government minister but instead by a new cross-party committee
• Increase the funding for the ABC and change it to a five-year funding cycle instead of a three-year cycle
