Coup disgrace, or portent of coup d’etat

Can you believe the opposition in the Parliament of Australia? The cardboard Kevin stunt was a new low point – lower than even I would have given them credit for. And while it is far from the worst thing that could happen in a representative democracy, it indicates how little regard the people involved have for those who gave them their jobs.

In case someone is asking, What’s cardboard Kevin, here’s a quick outline of the incident, preceded by what led up to it.

Until this year, the federal parliament, when in session has sat four days a week. But from now on it’s five. Well, until the government realises what a stupid idea it is, anyway. As if that wasn’t bad enough, there is to be no Question Time on Fridays. What’s more, while back benchers are expected to be in the house, dealing with parliamentary business – though not necessarily in the chamber – ministers can be out doing other stuff. This is not just new, it is unexpected and arguably unconstitutional. And it’s not just the opposition who are contesting it. Pretty well every political commentator has had a go at it. Hopefully, the trainer wheels will come off and the new team on the treasury benches will realise that just because you’re the government doesn’t mean that you can do what you like. That said, there are ways of opposing such measures, and ways of demeaning yourself and the parliament, and on Friday 22/2/08 the opposition did the latter.

There has always been too much posturing on both sides of the house, leaving insufficient time for constructive dialogue between government and opposition. But the opposition’s behaviour on that day went way beyond posturing and was actually in contempt of the parliament. They behaved like smart aleck teen agers provocatively flouting the law, defying the Speaker time after time; three of them even refused to leave the chamber when told to do so. Their self inflicted coup disgrace was bringing a cardboard cut out of the Prime Minister into the chamber to highlight his absence. This shows how little regard they have for their workplace and the people who put them there. The parliament is not the school yard. There are rules governing behaviour in the chamber – strict rules for non members in the gallery forbidding stunts and demonstrations – so that those on the floor of the house can do their job. When members on the floor of parliament start behaving as though they are at a demonstration, they are clearly in contempt of the parliament itself and the nation which elected it.

Deceitful arguments in parliamentary debates are one thing, but outright contempt of procedure suggests deeply disturbing possibilities. If things ever get seriously desperate in this country, it won’t be reds under the bed who make push come to shove.