Kerre Woodham: Is 'spineless' really unparliamentary language?

So as you will have heard, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has been barred from Parliament's debating chamber for the rest of the week, unless she apologises for a comment made during a debate over Palestine and the granting of statehood to it. During her speech, Swarbrick called on government MPs to back a Green Party bill that would allow New Zealand to sanction Israel for its war crimes.  

CS: If we find 6 of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history.  

GB: No, that is completely unacceptable to make that statement, withdraw it and apologise.  

CS: No.  

GB: Then leave the house for the rest of the week.  

CS: Happily.  

Gerry Brownlee, the Speaker of the House, said the spine comment was completely unacceptable, ordered her to withdraw it, and told her to leave the House when she refused. Parliamentary debates can be heated, but there are rules about what members can and cannot say. Unbecoming language, insults and accusations of dishonesty are banned.  

Now obviously unparliamentary language is constantly evolving and changing over time. Going into Parliaments records, you'll find that in 1933 an MP calling another member a shrewd old bird was considered unparliamentary language. In 1936, fungus farmer and pipsqueak were considered unacceptable. In 1946 things got a bit heated ... “I would cut the honourable gentleman's throat if I had the chance”, understandably, the Speaker ruled on that one unparliamentary language. But skite was also considered unparliamentary in 1946. I mean, nobody likes a skite, but unbecoming language and having to apologise to the House?  

In 1966 the insults flew and the Speaker was kept very busy. Shut up yourself, you great ape – withdraw and apologise. Snotty nosed little boy, cheap little twerp, and ridiculous mouse were all considered unacceptable. In 1977 John Boy was considered unacceptable. Silly old moo, racist, and sober up, which could have applied to any one of a number of MPs in 1977 I imagine, and so on and so forth. We probably don't think many of those insults were unparliamentary or unacceptable. I would say spineless fits in alongside twerp or stupid as Chris Bishop is supposed to have called members of the Opposition. I think stupid is worse than spineless. There are many things I have criticised and would criticise Chlöe Swarbrick for – calling her colleagues across the House spineless is not one of them. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Kerrywood and Mornings podcast from News
Talks head B.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
So as you will have heard, Green Party co leader
Chloe Swarbrick has been barred from Parliament's debating chamber for
the rest of the week unless she apologizes for a
comment made during a debate over Palestine and the granting
of statehood Palestine. During a speech on Palestinian statehood, Swarbrick
called on government MPs to back a Green Party bill

(00:34):
that would allow New Zealand to sanction Israel for its
war crimes. If we find sex of sixty eight government
MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right
side of history.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
That is completely unacceptable to make that statement.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Withdraw and apologize, n then leave the House for the
rest of the week. Right so as you heard there,
Jerry Browne, the Speaker of the House, said the spine
comment was completely unacceptable. Ordered to withdraw, she refused. The
Speaker told her to leave the house and she said, happily.

(01:09):
Parliamentary debates can be heated, but there are rules about
what members can and cannot say. Unbecoming language, insults, and
accusations of dishonesty are banned now obviously unparliamentary language is
constantly evolving and changing over time, and going into Parliament's

(01:31):
records you'll find that in nineteen thirty three an MP
calling another member a shrewd old bird was considered unparliamentary language,
and nineteen thirty six fungus, farmer and pipsqueak were considered unacceptable.
In nineteen forty six, things got a bit heated. I

(01:52):
would cut the honorable gentleman's throat if I had the chance. Understandably,
the Speaker ruled on that one unparliamentary language. But skyte
was also considered unparliamentary in nineteen forty six, I mean
nobody likes this guide but unbecoming language and having to
apologize to the house, and nineteen sixty six the insults

(02:16):
flew and the Speaker was kept very busy. Shut up yourself,
your great ape, withdraw and apologize. Snotty nosed, little boy,
cheap little twerp and ridiculous mouse were all considered unacceptable.
Nineteen seventy seven john boy was considered unacceptable, silly old moo,

(02:40):
racist and sober up, which could have applied to any
one of a number of MPs. In nineteen seventy seven,
and imagine and so on and so forth. We probably
don't think many of those insults were unparliamentary or unacceptable.
I would say spineless fits an alongside twerp or stupid,

(03:05):
as christ Bishop is supposed to have called members of
the opposition. I think stupids worse than spineless. There are
many things I have criticized and would criticize Chloe Swarbrick
for calling her colleagues across the house. Spineless is not
one of them.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
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