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In Australia’s tightly choreographed return to parliament, unexpected moments ring out In a tightly choreographed return to parliament, unexpected moments from Faruqi and Hanson ring out
(about 1 hour later)
Mehreen Faruqi’s sombre protest in support of Gaza and Pauline Hanson’s unexpected championing of David Pocock broke up a well-worn routineMehreen Faruqi’s sombre protest in support of Gaza and Pauline Hanson’s unexpected championing of David Pocock broke up a well-worn routine
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In a day of highly choreographed tradition and ceremony, even a quiet, unexpected moment lands with a thud. Like the black rod brandished by the usher in the Senate, banging against the door of the House of Representatives to summon MPs to the other chamber for the opening of parliament, two unscripted moments rang out against the otherwise soft solemnity of the opening of the 48th parliament.In a day of highly choreographed tradition and ceremony, even a quiet, unexpected moment lands with a thud. Like the black rod brandished by the usher in the Senate, banging against the door of the House of Representatives to summon MPs to the other chamber for the opening of parliament, two unscripted moments rang out against the otherwise soft solemnity of the opening of the 48th parliament.
One, a sombre protest against Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza: a white sign held up as the governor general, Sam Mostyn, held centre court in the Senate, hours after the Labor government joined a major global joint statement condemning Israel for denying humanitarian aid to Palestinians.One, a sombre protest against Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza: a white sign held up as the governor general, Sam Mostyn, held centre court in the Senate, hours after the Labor government joined a major global joint statement condemning Israel for denying humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
The second: far less consequential in the end.The second: far less consequential in the end.
“I nominate Senator David Pocock,” Pauline Hanson told the upper house, unexpectedly putting forward her unlikely candidate for the Senate presidency.“I nominate Senator David Pocock,” Pauline Hanson told the upper house, unexpectedly putting forward her unlikely candidate for the Senate presidency.
Pocock, the independent Canberran who made a name for himself in the last parliament as a thoughtful and often progressive voice, appeared the most surprised of anyone in the chamber. Deciding to respectfully decline the nomination, clearing the way for Labor’s Sue Lines to be re-elected as president, Pocock said he was “surprised as I think people in New South Wales were in game three of Origin”.Pocock, the independent Canberran who made a name for himself in the last parliament as a thoughtful and often progressive voice, appeared the most surprised of anyone in the chamber. Deciding to respectfully decline the nomination, clearing the way for Labor’s Sue Lines to be re-elected as president, Pocock said he was “surprised as I think people in New South Wales were in game three of Origin”.
The former rugby union star and Wallabies captain knew he was making a sensitive gag, after NSW’s upset in the rugby league decider a few weeks ago, and he set off groans from Blues fans in the chamber. It wasn’t immediately clear, to Pocock’s team or to observers, where Hanson’s nomination had come from, beyond it being a minor trolling exercise. Pocock later told the ABC he would “have to talk to Pauline and see what the thinking was”.The former rugby union star and Wallabies captain knew he was making a sensitive gag, after NSW’s upset in the rugby league decider a few weeks ago, and he set off groans from Blues fans in the chamber. It wasn’t immediately clear, to Pocock’s team or to observers, where Hanson’s nomination had come from, beyond it being a minor trolling exercise. Pocock later told the ABC he would “have to talk to Pauline and see what the thinking was”.
In comments to Guardian Australia, Hanson explained her logic.In comments to Guardian Australia, Hanson explained her logic.
“I think he’d make a better president than Sue Lines, and I’d like him to stop enabling Labor’s habit of guillotining Senate debates,” she said.“I think he’d make a better president than Sue Lines, and I’d like him to stop enabling Labor’s habit of guillotining Senate debates,” she said.
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Hanson might have been emboldened to throw a wrench in the works of an otherwise pre-ordained voting process, thanks to her One Nation ranks doubling overnight. Two new senators, Warwick Stacey and Tyron Whitten, have joined her on the crossbench, swelling Hanson’s ranks to four. It’s her largest contingent since One Nation’s short-lived glory days of 2016, when Rod Culleton and Brian Burston were elected, then quit, and Malcolm Roberts (since re-elected) was forced out in the dual citizenship crisis, to be replaced briefly by Fraser Anning. How long Hanson keeps her representation at four is already a Parliament House parlour game of predictions.Hanson might have been emboldened to throw a wrench in the works of an otherwise pre-ordained voting process, thanks to her One Nation ranks doubling overnight. Two new senators, Warwick Stacey and Tyron Whitten, have joined her on the crossbench, swelling Hanson’s ranks to four. It’s her largest contingent since One Nation’s short-lived glory days of 2016, when Rod Culleton and Brian Burston were elected, then quit, and Malcolm Roberts (since re-elected) was forced out in the dual citizenship crisis, to be replaced briefly by Fraser Anning. How long Hanson keeps her representation at four is already a Parliament House parlour game of predictions.
But her doubled numbers weren’t the only major changes on the floor.But her doubled numbers weren’t the only major changes on the floor.
The first speeches of the parliament came from Ali France and Sarah Witty, Labor’s giant killers who dispatched Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt. France, who had her leg amputated after a car accident and whose son died of leukaemia last year, had the honour of the first address.The first speeches of the parliament came from Ali France and Sarah Witty, Labor’s giant killers who dispatched Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt. France, who had her leg amputated after a car accident and whose son died of leukaemia last year, had the honour of the first address.
“People often ask ‘How are you standing?’ I say, ‘On one leg,” she said, to laughs from her colleagues.“People often ask ‘How are you standing?’ I say, ‘On one leg,” she said, to laughs from her colleagues.
The pomp and ceremony of the opening day requires a regular tramping back and forth between the House of Representatives and the Senate, including relatively rare joint sittings of all members inside the Senate. It’s one of the only times we see everyone in the one chamber, and it illustrated Labor’s huge majority.The pomp and ceremony of the opening day requires a regular tramping back and forth between the House of Representatives and the Senate, including relatively rare joint sittings of all members inside the Senate. It’s one of the only times we see everyone in the one chamber, and it illustrated Labor’s huge majority.
To accommodate an extra 150 people on the Senate floor, dozens of extra chairs were placed along the walls. But even then, and with many Labor MPs squeezing on to the normal Senate benches alongside their colleagues, the government members spilled over to the opposite side of the chamber, while there were many empty chairs on the Liberal side.To accommodate an extra 150 people on the Senate floor, dozens of extra chairs were placed along the walls. But even then, and with many Labor MPs squeezing on to the normal Senate benches alongside their colleagues, the government members spilled over to the opposite side of the chamber, while there were many empty chairs on the Liberal side.
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In the House, Labor members spill over onto benches normally occupied by crossbenchers; the crossbench now pushed up onto benches usually kept warm by the now-depleted opposition.In the House, Labor members spill over onto benches normally occupied by crossbenchers; the crossbench now pushed up onto benches usually kept warm by the now-depleted opposition.
Mostyn, the British crown’s representative in the federal system, is usually all but absent from the politics of the day. On Tuesday she presided over the key moments: greeting the re-elected House speaker Milton Dick and Senate president Lines, welcoming the members and senators to parliament with a warm speech, and, in a quirk of procedure that arguably still grates, delivering a speech written by the government about the prime minister’s priorities for the coming term.Mostyn, the British crown’s representative in the federal system, is usually all but absent from the politics of the day. On Tuesday she presided over the key moments: greeting the re-elected House speaker Milton Dick and Senate president Lines, welcoming the members and senators to parliament with a warm speech, and, in a quirk of procedure that arguably still grates, delivering a speech written by the government about the prime minister’s priorities for the coming term.
Mostyn, a popular and affable GG, urged senators and members to look after themselves, each other, and their communities – to exercise what she called “the muscle of care”.Mostyn, a popular and affable GG, urged senators and members to look after themselves, each other, and their communities – to exercise what she called “the muscle of care”.
“Debate the very tough issues of our time without anger, judgement or hate, but always with respect,” she told the parliamentarians. “In its most powerful form, care is tough. It’s accountable and measurable, but always essential to our nation’s future and cohesion.”“Debate the very tough issues of our time without anger, judgement or hate, but always with respect,” she told the parliamentarians. “In its most powerful form, care is tough. It’s accountable and measurable, but always essential to our nation’s future and cohesion.”
While the move was later derided by some in the government, it was care that prompted Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi – a Palestinian keffiyeh draped around her shoulders – to silently hold up a sign during Mostyn’s speech.While the move was later derided by some in the government, it was care that prompted Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi – a Palestinian keffiyeh draped around her shoulders – to silently hold up a sign during Mostyn’s speech.
“Gaza is starving, words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel,” it read.“Gaza is starving, words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel,” it read.
While props are not allowed on the parliament floor, Faruqi was not pulled up, and her silent protest continued. As Mostyn’s speech concluded, the parliamentarians filing out, the senator quietly put her request to Anthony Albanese as he walked past.While props are not allowed on the parliament floor, Faruqi was not pulled up, and her silent protest continued. As Mostyn’s speech concluded, the parliamentarians filing out, the senator quietly put her request to Anthony Albanese as he walked past.
“Prime minister, Gaza is starving. Will you sanction Israel?”“Prime minister, Gaza is starving. Will you sanction Israel?”
He appeared to give no response. Having sanctioned Israeli ministers, and signing Australia on to support multiple global statements condemning the Netanyahu government’s actions – often to great criticism from the right-wing press and conservative politicians – Labor has pushed back on criticism from its left flank that it hasn’t done enough.He appeared to give no response. Having sanctioned Israeli ministers, and signing Australia on to support multiple global statements condemning the Netanyahu government’s actions – often to great criticism from the right-wing press and conservative politicians – Labor has pushed back on criticism from its left flank that it hasn’t done enough.
Still, on a day where the tightly-planned schedule barely wavered, the unexpected moments rang out like the cannons of the 19-gun salute on the Parliament’s forecourt.Still, on a day where the tightly-planned schedule barely wavered, the unexpected moments rang out like the cannons of the 19-gun salute on the Parliament’s forecourt.