The federal Liberal Party's understandable desire to lay Bronwyn Bishop's speakership to rest ensured Tony Smith's election as the House Representatives Speaker on Monday was clear-cut and decisive, and made up of two parts relief and one part satisfaction. Relief that Mrs Bishop had gone to that part of the chamber known colloquially as the naughty corner and satisfaction that Mr Smith's election had been decisive and that his first words from the chair were that he was a believer in a fair go for everyone.
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The pursuit and attainment of high elected office invariably being accompanied by declarations of high-mindedness, Mr Smith has indicated he wants Parliament to be an "arena for the battle of ideas and ideals" where the language is neither rude nor raucous. He's already declared he will stop attending Liberal parliamentary party meetings – a decision which will bestow an overdue semblance of impartiality in the speakership – and that he will meet regularly with the leader of the House, the manager of Opposition business and independent MPs to ensure the smoother running of parliamentary business. So far, so good.
The potential for hung parliaments in Australia means an independent speaker in the tried and proven Westminster fashion will never be a realistic option here, no matter how voters might hanker for the British approach with its emphasis on civility and political process rather than invective and pantomime. Moreover, precedent created during 114 years of Federation means Australian speakers will always place loyalty to their party ahead of loyalty to the House. Nevertheless, it is possible for Speakers to act with greater authority and independence than has been the case in the past, particularly during Mrs Bishop's tenure.
Unfortunately, fine upstanding words and firm resolve are not of themselves enough to equip a new speaker to be a fair and impartial adjudicator and to command the respect of the house. Many a presiding officer has found the job of being loyal, but not too loyal to the government, and fair but not too fair to the opposition impossible. Mrs Bishop is one of the few speakers of recent memory to have decided not even to try. A cooperative-mined Mr Smith could not have chosen a better predecessor, therefore. He appears to command the respect of his Liberal colleagues and the goodwill of Labor leader Bill Shorten, another hopeful sign.
A good command of the standing orders will be crucial to Mr Smith's chances of earning his stripes. His resort to Standing Order 94 (a) – by which means Mrs Bishop capriciously ejected scores of Labor MPs – will need to be measured and economical. And were he to insist that answers to parliamentary questions be at all times directly relevant to the question, he would become a hero to voters who despair at Parliament's frequently juvenile antics. Mr Smith's show of goodwill to all may be nothing more than the window-dressing of the newly installed. But it's a show that deserves the support of MPs on both sides of the House.
