Sir Lockwood Smith: Former Speaker of the House on the protest, behaviour in Parliament during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill

A former Parliamentary Speaker says standards of the House have slipped in recent years. 

During debate around ACT's Treaty Principles Bill, Labour's Willie Jackson called David Seymour a liar, while Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi compared the party to the KKK. 

Former Speaker of the House, Sir Lockwood Smith told Mike Hosking that this is “as bad as he's ever seen the House”. 

He said it was “really sad” to see Parliament. 

“The whole standard of the place has been lowered in recent years. 

“Once you start letting it slip, another inch happens, another centimetre.” 

Smith argued standards had been slipping in the house for a while. 

“Parliament is meant to be where people we chose to represent us… they are meant to be the leaders of our communities. 

“Parliament is the highest court in the land, our most respected citizens.” 

Smith said Brownlee should not be blamed and he had “no choice” but to clear the House. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Treaty Principles Bill of Course made at the Parliament yesterday,
debated and voted on, but between its arrival and the
House and the departure to Select Committee, all hell broke.
Loose Speaker bailed on the day, suspended the Parliament. The
former Speaker, so lockwood Smith was watching, he's with us,
good morning to you morning mate. That as bad as
you've ever seen.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, that would have to be as bad as I've
ever seen. I guess you know. My feeling after it
was just one of real sadness, real sadness to see
Parliament treated that way?

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Did Jerry Browny do all he could?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
I think, you know, you can't blame the Speaker. I
think you can blame Jerry at all. I think at
the end he had no choice but suspend the House
and let things settle down and have the gallery cleared.
I think, you know, some of the rot has started
a way back. The whole standard of the place has
been lowered in recent years, and I think this is

(00:56):
just once you start letting slipped, it just orench happens
or another centimeter and so it goes on. And it
was what everyone feels about the bill. It's a significant issue,
and the reason why I turn it on to watch
was because I don't do that every day. It was
to hear what people had to say about this issue,

(01:17):
and rarely was what the bill actually says even mentioned
at all.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
I wonder if it's a House of representatives in the
fact that we as a society have slipped as well,
and they merely represent our lack of decorum as well.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
I guess you can argue that my indeed. But you know,
Parliament is meant to be a place where those who
we choose to represent us from our areas represent us
in the House and are meant to be the leaders
of our communities that we elect to Parliament. You know,
these are meant to be some of our most respected citizens,

(01:52):
because Parliament is the highest court in the land, and
they're meant to be our most respected citizens. In the
old days, you know, when I stood for Parliament, you
had to you know, it was a major process you
went through to get selected to stand for Parliament, let
alone get elected to Parliament. And that, of course it's

(02:14):
no secret. I make no secret to the fact that
I'm no fan of MMP, and I think that's partly
the reason why Parliament is in such decline.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
I think you're probably right. Appreciate your insights of Lockwoodmith
form the Speaker of the House of course. For more
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