would have resigned to spend more time with his colleagues in the caucus?” Ms Gillard opposed Mr
Abbott’s motion commenting that “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. The government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man—not now, not ever. The Leader of the Opposition says that people who hold sexist views and who are misogynists are not appropriate for high office. Well, I hope the Leader of the Opposition has a piece of paper and he is writing
AUSTRALIA
Leader of the Opposition that I think the best course for him is to reflect on the standards he has exhibited in public life, on the responsibility he should take for his public statements, on his close personal connection with Peter Slipper and on the hypocrisy he has displayed in this House today. On that basis, because of the Leader of the Opposition’s motivations, this Parliament should today reject this motion, and the Leader of the Opposition should think seriously about the role of women in public life and in Australian society— because we are entitled to a better standard than this”. While the motion was defeated
Hon. Julia Gillard, MP
out his resignation, because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia he does not need a motion in the House of Representatives; he needs a mirror. That is what he needs”. Ms Gillard also drew attention
to the fact that Mr Slipper has been a long serving member of the Liberal Party and was indeed preselected by the Liberal Party for the most recent 2010 Federal Election. Ms Gillard noted that when Mr Slipper was elected Deputy Speaker in September 2010, Mr Abbott stated that “I congratulate the member for Fisher (Mr Slipper), who has been a friend of mine for a very long time who has served this Parliament in many capacities with distinction”. Ms Gillard concluded that “I
will take the remaining seconds of my speaking time to say to the
69 to 70 votes, Mr Slipper returned to the Chamber later in the day to advise the House that he would be resigning his position as Speaker. Mr Slipper stated that “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the House this afternoon for its continued support and for the great privilege of serving as the 27th Speaker of the House of Representatives. I thank particularly those honourable members who spoke in support of me. I appreciated the references to the friendships I have enjoyed with members across the spectrum over many years. It is indeed a great privilege to serve in this place, particularly as Speaker. Despite the vote of the House in support of my continuation in office, I wish to advise that with great sadness I have decided that I should not continue as your Speaker. Accordingly, I am having arrangements made to tender my resignation to Her Excellency the Governor-General”. Mr Slipper drew attention to
his achievement and vision in reforming the House. Mr Slipper stated that “I was determined to do my part to improve its operation, and I suspect that the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business would concede my endeavours
314 | The Parliamentarian | 2012: Issue Four
in that area. I am most grateful for the support of honourable members from all sides for my endeavours in this regard. I refer, for example, to the changes in relation to both questions and answers; to the efforts to introduce greater civility into the House; and, of course, to the long-awaited renaming of the Federation Chamber. I wanted to expand the role of supplementary questions. I also wanted to turn our House into being like the House of Commons, where we had more interactivity and more spontaneity and where the government of the day—whoever was in government—was in fact held accountable to the people of Australia”. In concluding his remarks to the House, Mr Slipper stated that “I do understand the arguments of those who argued against me. The Leader of the Opposition has been a friend of mine for a very long time. He came to my wedding. When he was overlooked, we sat and talked through the difficulties. I do not hold anything against the Leader of the Opposition, who I think is a person of fine character, and. I think we are singularly privileged to have as Prime Minister a lady of amazing stamina. I leave this position without rancour, with a great deal of sadness and, more importantly, with a great deal of regret, because I believe that, given the controversy which has occurred in recent times, it is in the interests of the Parliament that I should take the course of action that I have personally chosen to take”.
Anna Burke elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives On 9 October, the House conducted its third election of Speaker for the 43rd Parliament. The current Deputy Speaker, Ms Anna Burke, MP, was elected unopposed as the 28th Speaker of the House of Representatives. She is the second woman to
hold the position of Speaker. Honourable Joan Child held the position of Speaker from 1986 to 1989. Ms Burke was first elected
to the seat of Chisholm, an inner metropolitan seat in Melbourne, in 1998. Previously she was an official for the Financial Sector Union. Ms Burke has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Communications both with Honours. In 2008 she was elected as Deputy Speaker. In 2011 she was the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Australia Clean Energy Future Legislation. This inquiry was one of the most significant conducted in the current Parliament. Ms Burke took the opportunity
to thank the House for its support. Ms Burke stated that “I wish to express my grateful thanks for the high honour the House has pleased to confer upon me. I am truly speechless at this time, and those of you who know me well will find that passing strange. I am deeply honoured and moved by this incredible honour that the House has bestowed upon me. At the outset, can I thank the
Ms Anna Burke, MP
members for Capricornia and Wills for their gracious and kind words. They almost moved me to tears. It is difficult to hear yourself praised. We do not accept it easily or lightly, so I accept those absolutely delightful remarks”. In particular, Ms Burke thanked
her husband for his support throughout her parliamentary