[Greens-Media] Challenge to archaic parliamentary speech

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Monday, 18 February 2008

Challenge to archaic parliamentary speech

The Prime Minister of Australia should read his or her own speech at the
Opening of Parliament, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The reading of the Prime Minister's speech by the Governor-General is a
relict of the practice in Olde England where the monarch gave the speech
in the House of Lords because she or he was banned from the House of
Commons," Senator Brown said.

"The Governor-General should open the Parliament and the Prime Minister
should give the speech." 

In Senate estimates this morning Senator Brown also called for an end to
the archaic honorific - 'the Honorable' - applying to members of
parliament who are or have been ministers. 

"It's time this antiquated and meaningless title was relegated to
history," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603



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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185	

Visit Bob's new myspace site at:
www.myspace.com/bobbrowngreens