Independent Warringah MP Zali Steggall has urged the Albanese government to nominate a woman for speaker in the House of Representatives to reflect the voice of female voters in the election and also called for changes to parliamentary processes to give more prominence to the new expanded crossbench.
Labor has canvassed the idea of supporting an independent MP for the coveted role of speaker, as the party factions met on Monday to formally approve the 30 members who will serve in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s ministry.
Zali Steggall, the independent MP for Warringah, has called on the Albanese government to appoint a female speaker and reform parliamentary processes.Credit:Michael Quelch
Labor MPs Rob Mitchell and Milton Dick are vying for the speakership, a prestigious role that comes with a salary of almost $370,000 – substantially more than an MP’s base salary of $211,250.
Labor was poised to secure majority government with 76 seats on Monday night, as late counting by the Australian Electoral Commission showed the party was expected to retain the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, decreasing the likelihood it will look to the crossbench to fill the speaker’s role to maximise its numbers on the floor of the chamber.
Earlier on Monday, Steggall said she would consider the role if approached by the government, but threw her support behind third-term Centre Alliance-turned-independent member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie.
“She’s been in the parliament for three terms. She’s experienced, she’s worked with both sides, she’s been in a party situation and so I think she would be very appropriate,” Steggall said.
She said women had delivered the major parties a clear message they wanted to be seen and represented in the next parliament. The wave of incoming “teal” independents, who campaigned on a platform of gender equality and ousted Liberal men, will boost the female representation in the chamber.
Crossbench MP Rebekha Sharkie said she would consider the speaker’s role if it was offered.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Women want a seat at the table, and there is talk of Labor putting a lot more women on their front bench, which is good,” Steggall said. “But in circumstances where you have a prime minister and treasurer, who are male and you have a leader of the opposition who is male, I think a female speaker would be more than appropriate.”
Labor has also welcomed more female MPs into its ranks, including in three seats in WA previously held by Liberal men, while Greens candidate Elizabeth Watson-Brown unseated Liberal MP Julian Simmonds to claim the Queensland seat of Ryan.
The lower house crossbench has more than doubled from eight MPs at the conclusion of the last parliament to 17 MPs, with the entry of six teal independents, three new Greens MPs, and the new independent member for Fowler Dai Le.
Steggall appealed to Albanese to make good on his pledge to elevate the culture of the parliament, proposing question time be reformed to limit Dorothy Dixers – the easy questions government MPs ask of their own ministers – and to give more questions to the expanded crossbench.
She has also proposed that the crossbench be given routine briefings on draft legislation in the same manner afforded to the opposition.
The speaker is responsible for the proper function and order of the chamber by ensuring MPs abide by the rules, called standing orders, and that correct parliamentary procedure is followed. They are expected to perform the role impartially. The role is elected by a vote of all MPs.
Sharkie said it would be an “honour” to be offered the speakership, but emphasised she had not had any discussions with Labor about the role.
“I would consider it very carefully. This is now my third term so I have a pretty good understanding of the operation of the parliament,” she said. “I certainly believe that there is great merit in having a speaker that comes from the crossbench.”
Helen Haines, who was re-elected as the independent member for Indi, has ruled out any interest in the role, telling the ABC last week she would not be prepared to give up her voice in the parliament. Longstanding Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie said he would be “up for a conversation” about the role, but expected the position would be filled from within the government’s ranks.
For her part, Steggall said she would weigh up the pros and cons of the role if approached, saying it would bring a significant opportunity to elevate the standard of parliamentary debate.
“But my electorate also wants me to be a very loud advocate for greater action on climate and other policy issues, which would be difficult from that role,” she said.
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