Deal struck on parliamentary reform

6 Sep 2010, 5:04 pm   -   Source: SBS staff and agencies
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The three independent MPs central to forming government have struck a deal with Labor and the Coalition on parliamentary reform (AAP)

The three independent MPs central to forming government have struck a deal with Labor and the Coalition on parliamentary reform (AAP)

The three independent MPs in the House of Representatives have struck a deal with both the Labor Party and Coalition on parliamentary reform.

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The three independent MPs in the House of Representatives have struck a deal with both the Labor Party and Coalition on parliamentary reform.

Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter were locked in talks with the Coalition, after Labor endorsed the parliamentary reforms over the weekend.

Mr Oakeshott held a media conference in Canberra outlining the changes.

The reforms deal specifically with Question Time and the appointment of the Speaker of the House.

According to the deal, Question Time will be shorter and more factual. The Speaker will be apolitical and excluded from party room talks.

Mr Oakeshott also highlighted a change in the way the parliamentary committee system works.

"We've done some good work... hopefully the good will will last," the MP says.

"This is a good day for addressing accountability," Labor's Anthony Albanese says.

"As a result [of these reforms] parliament will be a better place," Mr Albanese says.

The senior Labor figure says the reforms show the goodwill and sense of consensus present in the Labor Party.

Coalition MP Christopher Pyne echoed Mr Albanese's comments, saying the Coalition was looking forward to the reforms.

"Tony Abbott and I have always wanted to have an independent Speaker," Mr Pyne says.

"We should have always had time limits on Question Time," the Coalition MP says.

Mr Pyne says the reforms will give Private Members Bills - or legislation proposed by MPs who are not in the ruling party - the recognition they deserve.

"This is a very important moment in the life of our parliament," Independent MP Tony Windsor says.

"All local members should be treated with a degree of respect... this is a great moment, in my point of view," Mr Windsor says.

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Your Comments

Reform Woo-hoo

Cynical Sceptic - from Rockhampton, 2 years ago

About time! The 2 major parties have had it their own way for too long. What we need is more independents who are free of the constraints of towing the party line and kow-towing to party dictates. More independents may finally give the Australian people what we need, representation of the people and not of the corporation’s (who seem to dictate most policies the major parties present)!

Australia moves forward!

Josh - from Brisbane, 2 years ago

And so begins the great conversion from a double-corporation parliament to a democratic one.

Country Bumpkin - from Lyne, 2 years ago

That's mighty fine if youse dont mind me saying so cos thats what me Daddy told when I was just about knee high. Good table manners always boy thats what he told me. Thats what those policticians should have on the job on the teeveee for the whole darn world to see. Does this mean we have an other election since Rob Bob & Tony (RTB) have done bargaining?

mr

andrew - from ferntreegully, 2 years ago

Will they just hurry up and get this over with?!

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