Dear Poirot,

It's interesting how selective some people's memories
are. How quickly they forget the circus, farce,
and downright nastiness that was
the behaviour of the current government
when they were in opposition - and which they continue
to play their "wedge politics," with even to-day.
Australians deserve better. And certainly from the person
currently occupying the privileged position of Speaker of
the House. Repressing debate goes against our parliamentary
process - and toadying certainly has no place in parliament.

Talking about toadying - the following link is well worth
a read:

http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-revival-of-imperial-honours-abbotts-machiavellian-wedge,6314

Hypocrisy reins supreme. The former GG has now disgraced herself, at the hands of a british born citizen and emigrant to au.
I honestly believe this will not go unnoticed by his own crew. Let alone telling deliberate lies to the au people.

Foxy,

Yes, it's fascinating, isn't it.

One wonders why he felt he should be so autocratic about it...perhaps he imagined it some sort of masterstroke.

I'm surmising that Quentin Bryce probably found herself in a bit of a bind, and she had too much class to tell Abbott to shove it. She certainly wouldn't have expected it after Abbott has indicated in the recent past that he wouldn't be reinstating imperial honours.

Here:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/pm-tony-abbott-rules-out-reinstating-knights-and-dames-in-oz/story-fni0cx12-1226788026229

"In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Abbott said he did not support the idea, which would involve converting the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) to Knighthoods or reintroducing a new regal honour."

Interestingly, the bloke from Debrett's wasn't even aware Australia had ditched them in the first place...which kind of indicates how much credence the Oz system has in the world of peerage and honours.

Definitely a Bunyip Aristocracy...

Although the honours system in the UK today is mainly to reward big donors of whichever govt is pulling the strings - so that's a bit of a laugh as well!

(had a few laughs on twitter about this....suddenly everyone was bestowed a title and I was surround with Dames and Lords and Ladies, Emperors and Baronets, etc....verily, much rollicking, mirth and good humour ensued)

Dear Poirot,

Thanks for the link.

We could have some fun on this forum.
O Sung Wu started it - and the rest of us could
pursue it further - with the medieval titles
for some of our posters. There's a few that come
to mind that would be appropriate, funny, and
entertaining - all done in good spirit of course.

Good evening...

Grand Duchess 'Foxy', the Supreme Potentate of Good Manners !

and;

My Lady Viscountess 'Poirot', 'Esteemed Keeper of the Queen's Standards of Acceptable Behaviour'.

Your obedient servant...Sung Wu.

Every single Labor speaker has been biased, the labor party in government acted like a rabble and the speakers did nothing. The only people that are well behaved are on the other benches.

Mark Dufus stands up and starts shouting at the Speaker and Burke (well named) brings out a prepared speech to protest. What a joke. What labor wants is their toadies like Slipper.