Latest news with #AlexHawke
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Labor dumps tradition to knock Coalition MPs from key parliamentary posts
Coalition MPs face being dumped from the top spots of key parliamentary committees that scrutinise legislation after Labor broke from tradition and ended a bipartisan practice guaranteeing balanced leadership. The move opens the deputy chair position on three key committees – climate change, the environment and energy; healthcare, aged care and disability; and economics – to crossbench MPs, reflecting the Coalition's diminished numbers in parliament after the May election. But manager for opposition business Alex Hawke accused the government of introducing the change without notice and using it to avoid scrutiny. 'The Albanese Labor government has the worst track record for blocking freedom of information requests and orders for the production of documents,' Hawke said. 'Now, the prime minister has barred Coalition MPs from being deputy chairs on three important committees. Labor's plan to stop Coalition MPs from being deputy chairs was kept secret and sprung on the opposition at the moment.' Traditionally, the government of the day picks who chairs lower house committees and the deputy chair positions are automatically designated to the opposition, which decides internally who gets the roles. However, the government used its numbers in parliament to change the rules last week, meaning a committee vote will decide who gets to be deputy chair. Loading Former deputy chair of the standing committee on economics, Liberal MP Garth Hamilton, said he would be unlikely to get the role again because he will not have as many backers as some independents. 'The clear alignment of voting behaviour between the teals and Labor will render these committees mere echo chambers under these changes,' he said.
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Labor dumps tradition to knock Coalition MPs from key parliamentary posts
Coalition MPs face being dumped from the top spots of key parliamentary committees that scrutinise legislation after Labor broke from tradition and ended a bipartisan practice guaranteeing balanced leadership. The move opens the deputy chair position on three key committees – climate change, the environment and energy; healthcare, aged care and disability; and economics – to crossbench MPs, reflecting the Coalition's diminished numbers in parliament after the May election. But manager for opposition business Alex Hawke accused the government of introducing the change without notice and using it to avoid scrutiny. 'The Albanese Labor government has the worst track record for blocking freedom of information requests and orders for the production of documents,' Hawke said. 'Now, the prime minister has barred Coalition MPs from being deputy chairs on three important committees. Labor's plan to stop Coalition MPs from being deputy chairs was kept secret and sprung on the opposition at the moment.' Traditionally, the government of the day picks who chairs lower house committees and the deputy chair positions are automatically designated to the opposition, which decides internally who gets the roles. However, the government used its numbers in parliament to change the rules last week, meaning a committee vote will decide who gets to be deputy chair. Loading Former deputy chair of the standing committee on economics, Liberal MP Garth Hamilton, said he would be unlikely to get the role again because he will not have as many backers as some independents. 'The clear alignment of voting behaviour between the teals and Labor will render these committees mere echo chambers under these changes,' he said.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Anti-democratic': Labor seeks controversial change to rules in the House
The Albanese government is seeking to expand the powers of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to kick MPs out of the chamber if they misbehave and reduce the number of questions Coalition members get during Question Time. Opposition manager of business in the house Alex Hawke blasted the move as "anti-democratic and not transparent." "These changes that are proposed ... are something very sneaky." The proposed changes, if passed, would empower Speaker Milton Dick to order MPs to leave the chamber for three hours, instead of one. Government leader of the house Tony Burke said when introducing a package of amendments to the standing orders, including the three-hour change under standing order 94a, that it had been a unanimous recommendation of the procedure committee, which had previously considered it in 2021. Other amendments introduced on Wednesday include changes to the number of questions to the crossbench during question time - with crossbenchers to receive more chances to speak after the first 10 questions - and amendments to the number of votes required for a full division count. Independent MPs have also questioned the proposed amendments. Warringah MP Zali Stegall introduced an amendment that sought to "clarify what constitutes disorderly conduct so that when it occurs it is not left to vague interpretation and can be quickly addressed allowing MPs to return to productive policy debate." Ms Steggall said there was "a balancing act between robust parliamentary debate and having a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free workplace." READ MORE: Mr Burke said the issue would be referred to the procedural committee. Independent MPs Helen Haines and Kate Chaney supported Ms Steggall's amendment. The Albanese government is seeking to expand the powers of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to kick MPs out of the chamber if they misbehave and reduce the number of questions Coalition members get during Question Time. Opposition manager of business in the house Alex Hawke blasted the move as "anti-democratic and not transparent." "These changes that are proposed ... are something very sneaky." The proposed changes, if passed, would empower Speaker Milton Dick to order MPs to leave the chamber for three hours, instead of one. Government leader of the house Tony Burke said when introducing a package of amendments to the standing orders, including the three-hour change under standing order 94a, that it had been a unanimous recommendation of the procedure committee, which had previously considered it in 2021. Other amendments introduced on Wednesday include changes to the number of questions to the crossbench during question time - with crossbenchers to receive more chances to speak after the first 10 questions - and amendments to the number of votes required for a full division count. Independent MPs have also questioned the proposed amendments. Warringah MP Zali Stegall introduced an amendment that sought to "clarify what constitutes disorderly conduct so that when it occurs it is not left to vague interpretation and can be quickly addressed allowing MPs to return to productive policy debate." Ms Steggall said there was "a balancing act between robust parliamentary debate and having a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free workplace." READ MORE: Mr Burke said the issue would be referred to the procedural committee. Independent MPs Helen Haines and Kate Chaney supported Ms Steggall's amendment. The Albanese government is seeking to expand the powers of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to kick MPs out of the chamber if they misbehave and reduce the number of questions Coalition members get during Question Time. Opposition manager of business in the house Alex Hawke blasted the move as "anti-democratic and not transparent." "These changes that are proposed ... are something very sneaky." The proposed changes, if passed, would empower Speaker Milton Dick to order MPs to leave the chamber for three hours, instead of one. Government leader of the house Tony Burke said when introducing a package of amendments to the standing orders, including the three-hour change under standing order 94a, that it had been a unanimous recommendation of the procedure committee, which had previously considered it in 2021. Other amendments introduced on Wednesday include changes to the number of questions to the crossbench during question time - with crossbenchers to receive more chances to speak after the first 10 questions - and amendments to the number of votes required for a full division count. Independent MPs have also questioned the proposed amendments. Warringah MP Zali Stegall introduced an amendment that sought to "clarify what constitutes disorderly conduct so that when it occurs it is not left to vague interpretation and can be quickly addressed allowing MPs to return to productive policy debate." Ms Steggall said there was "a balancing act between robust parliamentary debate and having a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free workplace." READ MORE: Mr Burke said the issue would be referred to the procedural committee. Independent MPs Helen Haines and Kate Chaney supported Ms Steggall's amendment. The Albanese government is seeking to expand the powers of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to kick MPs out of the chamber if they misbehave and reduce the number of questions Coalition members get during Question Time. Opposition manager of business in the house Alex Hawke blasted the move as "anti-democratic and not transparent." "These changes that are proposed ... are something very sneaky." The proposed changes, if passed, would empower Speaker Milton Dick to order MPs to leave the chamber for three hours, instead of one. Government leader of the house Tony Burke said when introducing a package of amendments to the standing orders, including the three-hour change under standing order 94a, that it had been a unanimous recommendation of the procedure committee, which had previously considered it in 2021. Other amendments introduced on Wednesday include changes to the number of questions to the crossbench during question time - with crossbenchers to receive more chances to speak after the first 10 questions - and amendments to the number of votes required for a full division count. Independent MPs have also questioned the proposed amendments. Warringah MP Zali Stegall introduced an amendment that sought to "clarify what constitutes disorderly conduct so that when it occurs it is not left to vague interpretation and can be quickly addressed allowing MPs to return to productive policy debate." Ms Steggall said there was "a balancing act between robust parliamentary debate and having a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free workplace." READ MORE: Mr Burke said the issue would be referred to the procedural committee. Independent MPs Helen Haines and Kate Chaney supported Ms Steggall's amendment.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australian government's huge move on Queen Elizabeth II
Parliament has returned with big changes to the way the government conducts its business, including a new change to how it references the royals. The way that the parliament goes about its work in the House of Representatives is governed by 'standing orders'. Now, those orders have been amended to remove all references to Queen Elizabeth II – even though it's been almost three years since the Queen's death. As the British monarch is Australia's head of state, they are mentioned alongside their representative, the Governor-General, in the standing orders. Labor minister and leader of the House Tony Burke moved an amendment to the standing orders on Wednesday morning that would replace mentions of Queen Elizabeth II with King Charles III. The Queen was referenced at least 15 times in the standing orders, but all of those mentions will now be taken over by her successor. Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, aged 96. Liberal Party manager of opposition business Alex Hawke accepted the change but said he was 'reluctant' to do so. 'I will say upfront as a lifelong constitutional monarchist and a great supporter of our constitutional monarchy and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we are still in my view in the official mourning period,' Mr Hawke said. 'We do accept, reluctantly, the changes to remove all references to the Queen from the standing orders and replace them with the sovereign.' He called it a 'reluctant but necessary change'. Other changes to standing orders include how long parliamentarians can be ejected from the house and how votes are recorded.
Daily Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Telegraph
Hawke staffer leads branch takeover in Angus Taylor's seat
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. As he bids to become the Liberals next leader today, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Angus Taylor's factional enemies launched a guerrilla campaign to take over his seat. Mr Taylor and Sussan Ley will challenge for the federal Liberal leadership on Tuesday, with Ms Ley supported by her factional ally Alex Hawke, the centre-right powerbroker once described as 'Scott Morrison's numbers man.' This masthead has discovered documents which highlight an aggressive recruitment drive into the Camden Young Liberals, attached to Mr Taylor's electorate of Hume. Between July and December last year the number of active members in the Camden branch grew from fewer than five to almost 30, with one notable new member an employee in Mr Hawke's office, Kokulaan Santhakumar. Kokulaan Santhakumar, who describes himself as a 'speechwriter' and 'adviser' in Alex Hawke's office, was involved in a major recruitment drive into the Camden Liberals. Source: Supplied Mr Santhakumar, who multiple sources have described as the 'architect' of the move, was accepted into the Camden Young Liberals last year, despite living in Penrith and residing 60 kilometres away at St Andrew's College in Sydney University. The overwhelming majority of new members lived in other parts of Sydney - some up to 80 kilometres away. Many Young Liberals were transferring from the branch in the Blue Mountains. 'We were asked to join because Camden was almost extinct and it needed to be saved. Kokulaan was telling everyone we needed to move,' one Young Liberal said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'Months later it looks like Kokulaan is going to be the new President, and many of the other members he recruited haven't engaged with the party. We've never seen them,' the source said. It's understood a number of Young Liberal applicants living nearby in the local Hume electorate were also denied membership in recent months. Alex Hawke MP for Mitchell, has distanced himself from the recruitment drive into the Camden Young Liberals. NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone 'If you aren't on Team Kokulaan, you won't get in. There was a meeting at 7:30am on a Saturday when a lot of local members were dudded. Kokulaan is now telling people he will be running Angus Taylor in a few years. This is straight from the school of Machiavellian politics,' one Young Liberal said. Young Liberals are given full voting rights in branch matters such as pre-selection contests, which would possibly include a contest against Mr Taylor at the next federal election. However, there are hundreds of branch members across the Hume electorate. This masthead put a range of questions to Mr Santhakumar about his involvement in the recruitment drive. In response he said: 'as per Liberal Party rules, I cannot comment further on Party-related matters to the media.' Mr Santhakumar said: 'I know Angus Taylor and (wife) Louise Clegg very well, they have always had and will continue to have my full support.' In a statement, the MP for Mitchell Mr Hawke said he was 'not aware' of the actions orchestrated by Mr Santhakumar: 'I am uninvolved in young Liberal issues and haven't taken an interest in the last 15 years or more' he said. Mr Hawke also denied his office was being used for any ongoing Liberal Party operations: 'my office follows all relevant workplace requirements and protocols.' Despite Mr Santhakumar claiming he is an 'adviser' and 'speechwriter' in the office, Mr Hawke said: 'the staffer in question works irregularly, one day a week.' When approached to comment on new Young Liberals in his seat, Mr Taylor said: 'factional infighting and political games are not the path to rebuilding the Liberal Party – this will only make the road back to government harder.' Do you know more? Email:
