I emailed all MPs on parliamentary behaviour and replies have been dominated by Green MPs, which doesn’t surprise me, they put more emphasise on standards than some of the other parties.
Green comments about behaviour in parliament included: frustrating, demeaning, unproductive, variable.
Kennedy Graham:
I endeavoured, as the Green MP on the Standing Orders Committee last year, to address this issue in its triennial review of the standing orders.
Got nowhere really.
Gareth Hughes:
I think it is fantastic people are contacting him [Lockwood Smith, the Speaker] and making comment about the level of debate and of MPs behaviour in their Parliament.
I think MPs do themselves no favours with their behaviour in the House.
I support robust debate but often debates get bogged down into petty point scoring, name-calling and rude behaviour. Question Time becomes dominated by pointless points of order which seem more to boost some members’ egos than improving parliamentary process. I believe is one of the reasons why voters are turning away in droves from engaging is the lack of respect for other members and for intelligent debate in the House. The sad thing is that it has gone on for so long it has become normal and acceptable.
Parliament can improve its behaviour and still maintain robust debate but it’s not up to just the Speaker; it’s up to all MPs.
Good comments. I agree that it should be up to all MPs, but it is also up to the parties, and their leaders in particular. And the public should increase the pressure on them to do something about it.
inventory2
/ August 18, 2012Interesting that Russel Norman hasn’t commented, given the abuse he’s thrown around this week in pressers and social media…
Darryl
/ August 18, 2012Russel Norman and the Green Party at large along with Labour, NZFirst are the worst of the lot, at shouting and interjecting, when the National Party is giving an anwser to there question. It makes you wonder why they bother asking their rediculous hyperthetical questions, when they obviously don’t want to listen.
Quentin Todd
/ August 18, 2012I have sent an email to Mr Speaker and received a reply from his Private Secretary thanking me for taking time to point out my disapproval of MP behaviour.
FROM EMAIL:
Dear Mr Todd,
Thank you for your email of Thursday 16 August 2012 to Mr Speaker.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and your comments have been noted.
Kind regards,
Amelia
Amelia Abplanalp | Private Secretary
Office of Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith
amelia.abplanalp@parliament.govt.nz
—–Original Message—–
From: Quentin Todd [quentint@me.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 08:24 PM New Zealand Standard Time
To: Beryl Bright
Subject: Behaviour of Members of Parliament
Sir,
I strongly object to members of the House behaviour.
We are at a critical juncture of time whereby solidity of consensus is needed on issues of a global nature that will have a impact domestically.
The maturity of the elected to Parliament is quite disgusting, and I do urge you, Mr Speaker, to repel said immaturity,
Quentin Todd
writing for change, one page at a time…