11th Sep 2024, 9:06 AM – Representatives Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Amendment (Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - New Code of Conduct

The majority voted against an amendment to an original amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This amendments was introduced by Wentworth MP Allegra Spender (Independent).

Amendment text

That all words after “reading” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the Code of Conduct requires parliamentarians to treat people with “dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect”;

(b) the conduct of parliamentarians in the House of Representatives chamber - especially during Question Time - frequently falls short of these standards;

(c) there is no other workplace environment where shouting, mocking, and hurling insults is not only tolerated, but celebrated;

(d) since May 2022, politicians have been thrown out of the chamber over 200 times;

(e) this behaviour sets a terrible example to young Australians and does nothing to support constructive discussion and social cohesion, at a time when we are struggling to disagree well as a country; and

(f) the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission is supposed to enforce the Code of Conduct for parliamentarians, but its remit will not extend to conduct in the chamber; and

(2) calls on the Government to embed the new Code of Conduct in the House of Representatives Standing Orders, and to take real steps to improve behaviour in the chamber.”

Original amendment text

That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) codes of conduct and their transparent enforcement are critical to the healthy functioning of democracy;

(b) this bill does not guarantee findings of parliamentarian misconduct will be made public and leaves the recommendation and imposition of serious sanctions to the discretion of the relevant Privileges Committee rather than the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission;

(c) this is a departure from the recommendations of Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces and the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards Final Report;

(d) concerns have been raised by The Australian Democracy Network, Transparency International Australia and Fair Agenda that the bill contains inadequate transparency measures; and

(2) calls on the Government to amend this legislation to:

(a) allow the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to make independent recommendations for serious sanctions;

(b) require a comprehensive explanation of reasons if the privileges committee disagrees with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission’s recommendations, and

(c) ensure the public reporting of serious or persistent misconduct and recommended sanctions”.