Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I'd like to raise a concern about guests signed in by members of parliament to the gallery, in particular during question time. The Leader of the Nationals asked a question to the Prime Minister and indicated that guests supporting, or objecting, to the live sheep lobby were in the gallery and pointed to the gallery here. When they decided to leave, a gentleman in jeans, black T-shirt, overweight and bald flipped the bird—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is asking for that comment to be withdrawn, but—

Well, I'm just reading your mind. Resume your seat. I'm going to allow the member for Warringah, perhaps in not so many details, to continue on with the question to me—to get to the question to me.

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the benefit of the Speaker, the description is so that that person may be identified from video content. Upon leaving the gallery, they flipped the bird—the finger—to the chamber and in doing so looked to the Leader of the Nationals for support.

Honourable members interjecting—

Now, that is, again—

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Be very careful. I'm saying: you be careful.

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you threatening me? Leader of the Nationals, are you threatening me?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Nationals thinks it's appropriate to threaten me.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. The Leader of the Nationals, resume your seat. The deputy leader, it's difficult to take a point of order in the middle of a question to me, just as you can't during a question. Think of it like question time. Can you just allow the member to finish her question, and then I'll give you the call.

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've identified the gentleman because, clearly, he has been signed in by a member of parliament to attend the gallery. That conduct is not becoming of a visitor to the chamber. It is a reflection on the Speaker and all of us here, and I do take offence at that behaviour. If we are here to improve standards, it has to come from all, including visitors. So, I ask the Speaker: is that appropriate conduct for a signed-in guest in the public gallery? I also point out that I do take offence to the threat that was made to me by the Leader of the Nationals—that I should 'be careful'. That is not appropriate conduct in this chamber.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've asked the question. The deputy leader is now—

Government members interjecting—

Order! Members on my right. Any member is entitled to ask me a question after question time regarding conduct to the House and the operations of the House. So, everyone just show respect. Now, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has been waiting patiently for a point of order.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did stand up earlier because I thought that that body-shaming remark by the member for Warringah was disgraceful. The pejorative description of a member of our public gallery should be withdrawn immediately.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, does the member for Warringah wish to withdraw that descriptor?

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, because I would like the video footage to be identified.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The identification is the issue there. I'm going to deal with this issue because what the member has raised is a serious issue. I want to remind all visitors and people who are guests of members: there are established forms of behaviour. Members in the gallery are not here to participate; they are here to observe. I'm asking all members, when they sign in guests or offer guests tickets to—

Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a public gallery!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for O'Connor, I'm answering a question. This is a message to all members of the gallery not to interject, converse or signal. I further remind all members: if you do invite guests to the gallery, I consider their conduct to be a reflection on you. I want to be clear that, if this behaviour continues, the privilege may be revoked, just as it has been done in this term. Visitors of the public are welcome here to observe.