Harry’s reasons

Harry Jenkins has ended the parliamentary year with a surprise, announcing he will resign as Speaker today:

In a statement to Parliament, Speaker Jenkins said he’d divorced himself from party political matters in order to carry out his duties in a non-partisan manner. “In this era of minority government I have progressively become frustrated at this stricture,” he said. “My desire is to be able to participate in policy and parliamentary debate, and this would be incompatible with continuing in the role of Speaker.”

Which is no huge deal if that’s all there is to it. But with the rift between Deputy Speaker Peter Slipper and his party widening of late – the LNP is presently considering disciplinary action against him – the suspicion exists that the government has reached an arrangement with him. If so, the return of Jenkins to the floor would enable the government to win confidence motions 76-73 rather than 75-74. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Events are moving quicker than my iPad typing speed. Phillip Coorey of the Sydney Morning Herald reports:

The Liberal MP, Peter Slipper, is likely to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives after Labor’s Harry Jenkins resigned this morning, shocking the Parliament on its final sitting day for 2011. Labor MPs will be asked to approve Mr Slipper’s nomination at a special caucus meeting scheduled for 10am.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,458 comments on “Harry’s reasons”

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  1. I wonder why the language of this Kyle Sandiland guy is getting so much negative airplay, and that directed to Gillard barely registers at all?

  4. Jacinta Collins is being put through the wringer by Abetz in the Senate. She’s the parliamentary secretary responsible for some bill, but she’s not across her brief. Abetz is asking endless questions of detail and Collins has to ask the public services advisors before answering every single one.

  6. [What did Abbott say?]
    “Lost control” got a few goings through too – borders, debt blah blah blah

    Just think of any Abbott slogan…I think most of them were trotted out for a run

  8. WTF does Pengilly mean with this?
    [Mr Pengilly told State Parliament his comment was a “poor use of terminology.”]
    Wrong gender of canis?

  9. [Mr Pengilly told State Parliament his comment was a “poor use of terminology.”

    “Anyone who knows me knows I do not abuse women, hit them or anything else… If my comments have caused offence to the Prime Minister I apologise to her,” he said.]

    Yeah sure.

    Creep

  10. Scarpat – I heard Albo this morning and he was good despite Fran Kelly’s aggression. I didn’t bother to wait for Pyne because I thought Kelly wouldn’t give Pyne the same treatment.

    BTW – are you anywhere near Lorient in Brittany?

  12. Yep, victria, what Rishane said. Same old, same old with Abbott and I think even he is finding it boring to mouth that rubbish over and over. I’m not so sure it’s having the same impact anymore.

  14. I’ve completely changed my opinion of Tony Abbott after seeing him on 7.30 tonight. Uhlmann asked him what he would have done if he was in the same position as Gillard and he put his hand on his heart and said he would never have descended to such depths as she did today. That’s good enough for me.

  15. Speaking of Kyle:

    [
    MEDIA RELEASE THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2011
    SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO STATEMENT

    Southern Cross Austereo sincerely apologises for the comments that Kyle Sandilands made on his radio show this week.

    Rhys Holleran, Chief Executive Officer for Southern Cross Austereo said: “Kyle speaks his mind, however in this case we recognise that his opinions have caused offence and sincerely apologise. Southern Cross Austereo does not condone his sentiments, is addressing issues with Kyle personally and assessing internal systems and processes. We value our listeners and clients dearly and hold the utmost respect for their opinions and actions.”

    Further Information:
    Vicki Heath
    PR Manager – Southern Cross Austereo Sydney
    02 9375 1503
    +61 402 355 325
    Vicki.heath@sca.com.au]

  16. [I heard Albo this morning and he was good despite Fran Kelly’s aggression.]

    BH,

    That is why Albanese was so good. Christopher Pyne was, well, Christopher Pyne.

    I am back in Sydney now. When we are over in France we are about 650Ks from Lorient (however my wife’s family has a house in Brittany not too far from Lorient).

  18. [I’ve completely changed my opinion of Tony Abbott after seeing him on 7.30 tonight. Uhlmann asked him what he would have done if he was in the same position as Gillard and he put his hand on his heart and said he would never have descended to such depths as she did today. That’s good enough for me.]

    Of course. We is angels, they is demons.

    Abbott and the Coalition would’ve done exactly the same, Gillard and the ALP would’ve reacted the same way too.

  19. [WTF does Pengilly mean with this?]

    Typical Liberal weasel words: I’m only apologising because I was caught, but I’m not really sorry.

  21. victoria
    [Does Abbott have the ability to change strategy?]
    I suspect not. And its not working. And that is why I think it is only a matter of time before he feels someone’s hot breath on his neck…

  22. [I wonder why the language of this Kyle Sandiland guy is getting so much negative airplay, and that directed to Gillard barely registers at all?]

    Because the “fat slag”: he referred to was a NEws Ltd. JOURNALIST (with the emphasis on JOUIRNALIST).

    Prime Ministers are – apparently – fair game. “Robust” debate, and all that.

    Bob Watch
    Doggie is back home minus many of his teeth. The photos the vet took were gruesome. Don’t know which were worse: “before” or “after”. Suffice it to say: YUCK!

    The reason we hadn’t seen any of this beofre was that it’s “difficult” to get Bob to open his mouth, or to co-operate in any other way regarding interference with his little body. Unless you don’t mind losing a finger or two. So, until the anesthetic was administered, we were all guessing (correctly as it turned out) that he had a mouth full of rotten teeth.

    He’s had some food and is now wrapped up in – Oh the horror! – a PINK blanket, courtesy of the drug company.

    Her Indoors said, “Ullo… that must mean the drugs were REALLY expensive.”

    Which they were.

    Thanks for all the positive comments and waves pointed Bob’s way. When we saw him wag his tail at the vet’s, we knew we had our dog back (albeit a trifle lighter around the gums).

  25. Give Pengilly a little sympathy. It seems their planned free ride into government is over and they’re gonna have to work for it now. This upsets the SA Libs because actually doing anything is a hassle and a half for them.

  26. [Uhlmann asked him what he would have done if he was in the same position as Gillard and he put his hand on his heart and said he would never have descended to such depths as she did today.]

    Abbott, if in the same position as Julia Gillard, would have cheerfully nominated Satan for speaker if he thought it would get him what he wanted. The word ‘hypocrite’ is not strong enough for Abbott. This man would do anything and say anything to become PM. It’s just as well that possibilty gets less likely every day.

  27. [Does Abbott have the ability to change strategy?]

    It’s doubtful.

    We shall see next year whether he’s capable of embracing a more humble and substantive demeanour.

  28. [Yep, victria, what Rishane said. Same old, same old with Abbott and I think even he is finding it boring to mouth that rubbish over and over. I’m not so sure it’s having the same impact anymore.]

    No major unhinging moments alas, but he did seem startled by some of Uhlman’s questions at points.

  29. [Mr Pengilly told State Parliament his comment was a “poor use of terminology.”

    “Anyone who knows me knows I do not abuse women, hit them or anything else… ]

    Oh, OK… as long as he doesn’t hit women, that’s alright then.

  33. [… I think it is only a matter of time before he feels someone’s hot breath on his neck…]

    I think he’d enjoy that. Take him back to his days training…

  36. From Hugh Riminton on twitter, he cc’d Laurie Oakes:

    @hughriminton Harry Jenkins says his throat-slitting gesture was to tell Andrew Meares to stop taking pics from the press gallery.

  38. The cretinous Speers stuck with an all Labor panel on The Nation on SkyNews tonight, as they had planned to canvass the issues surrounding the upcoming Labor Conference, but Harry Jenkins pulled the rug from under that plan.

    Speers tries to serve up the usual Coalition-friendly framing of his questions, which are then flatly refuted as spurious or biased by the assembled panel.

    The usual sneering Speers is struggling to get the Coalition spin he normally expects in response to his dorothy dixers to compliant shills from the IPA or Menzies House.

  40. Carey Moore
    Posted Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 8:05 pm | Permalink

    Abbott and the Coalition would’ve done exactly the same, Gillard and the ALP would’ve reacted the same way too.

    Fair comment, but abbott is not winning many, err any, despite all the hot air.

    Labor won the negotiation after the election, its programs are largely now law and wilkies potential threat is diminished somewhat.

    Uhlmann could have thrown back into abbotts face his recent statement about being *pragmatic, any day* over policy purity, but abbott was on the ropes anyway.

    More and more of the libs know with abbott there is just another term in opposition and that is going to be on their minds over Christmas etc.

    Abbott is running out of time and has bugger all runs on the board.

  44. [Thornleigh Labor Man
    Posted Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 8:14 pm | Permalink
    Could Slipper possibly win Fisher with ALP preferences at the next election?
    Any thoughts?]

    No.

    !!!!

    I think you will find the Libs will have a pretty happy time in Qld elections in the foreseable future, notwithstanding paradigm shifts

  45. This has had worried me all afternoon, I have to ask..
    What on earth was Peter Slipper thinking when he decided to wear that brown pin-stripe suit AND a lime green tie? Was he on his way to a 1970’s party? Has he wandered in from being an extra on the set of Boardwalk Empire? Had his wife sent all his decent suits to the cleaners? I understand his wife was in the gallery watching his election, surely she had something to say to him about his choice of outfit. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the return of parliament next yearjust to see what sartorial delights Pete chooses to wear.

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