Qld: New Speaker wants more passion, except in question time

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2005
Qld: New Speaker wants more passion, except in question time

By Jane Nelson, State Political Correspondent

BRISBANE, Aug 9 AAP - New Speaker Tony McGrady wants more passion in Queensland's parliament,
but not during question time.

Mr McGrady, who replaces Ray Hollis following his retirement last month after 16 years
in parliament, said he would prefer MPs to speak off the cuff rather than from prepared
speeches and would demand silence during question time.

"Debate within the parliament should be robust, and in my opinion members are entitled
to show passion. In fact, I would certainly encourage that," Mr McGrady said as he outlined
his rules after being elected Speaker today by 60 votes to 24.

But he said he planned to crack down on any MPs who failed to show respect for those
asking and answering questions during question time.

"For my part, I will warn a member who in my opinion is not acting in the way he or
she should," the former state development minister told parliament.

"If they fail to accept that warning and continue to act in that way, I will ask the
member to leave the chamber. It is my intention to be firm but fair in that regard."

Premier Peter Beattie welcomed Mr McGrady's tough policies, saying it would make the
government more accountable.

"I think question time has been in recent times a bit of a rabble and I think it needed
to be improved," Mr Beattie said.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the Nationals would respect Mr McGrady's
desire to lift standards within parliament.

The opposition had proposed Ted Malone, Nationals MP for Mirani, as their preferred
candidate for the speaker's post.

They opposed Mr McGrady's appointment on the grounds he had been linked with the allegations
of hospitality rorts that plagued Mr Hollis in his final few months.

Mr Springborg said Mr McGrady's faction was one of those entertained by the former
speaker and he attended some of the functions that were investigated by the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Mr Hollis was ultimately cleared of the allegations by the DPP.

AAP jln/sc/evt/sd

KEYWORD: SPEAKER QLD NIGHTLEAD

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