Sports Minister Corey Wingard blocked from giving a tribute in State Parliament to SANFL legend Robert Oatey, amid political spat
A planned speech honouring the late SANFL player Robert Oatey has been stopped, as the Opposition plays hard ball in an ongoing dispute over the rules.
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Sports Minister Corey Wingard has been blocked from giving a tribute in State Parliament to SANFL legend Robert Oatey, as a petty political spat over procedural rules continues.
In scenes on Tuesday afternoon that sparked calls of “shame” from the Government benches, the Opposition refused Mr Wingard ‘leave’ to give a ministerial statement before Question Time.
Under Parliamentary convention, ministers ask permission from the House to give a prepared statement and it is traditionally granted without challenge by the Opposition.
However, Mr Wingard was denied leave and then revealed the statement was to have been about the SANFL legend.
That led to cries of “shame” from Government MPs, to which Manager of Opposition Business Tom Koutsantonis responded across the chamber: “It is, you should have thought of that before you broke pairs”.
Other planned tributes in parliament for prominent South Australians have included advance notice to the Opposition, which did not occur in this case.
The feud stems from claims made by Labor in February that the Government broke a pairing agreement to defend Environment and Water Minister David Speirs from a no-confidence motion.
The convention of pairing involves one side of a debate agreeing not to vote, to offset the absence of an opposing MP who is absent for valid reasons like work or sickness.
Labor said at the time that it had a ‘pair’ agreement to cover the absence of a sick MP, which it maintains the Government broke to avoid an embarrassing loss on the floor of Parliament.
In the months since, the Opposition has played hard ball.
That has included regular quorum checks, which demands the ringing of the bells and return of MPs from their offices.
Mr Wingard’s office has released text of the would-be tribute on request from Advertiser.com.au
He pays tribute to Mr Oatey as a Norwood and Sturt champion.
“It is with a heavy heart that I rise today to note the passing of Robert Oatey OAM,” Mr Wingard’s speech reads.
“Robert was an inaugural inductee into the SA Football Hall of Fame.
“Mr Oatey’s playing and coaching record is extensive, as is his long list of achievements and contributions to the SANFL as a football administrator.
“Mr Oatey played 232 games and kicked 365 goals for Norwood between 1961 and 1973, serving as captain between 1968 to 1973.
“He was a four time best and fairest for Norwood, leading goal kicker on three occasions and was named as a forward pocket in the Norwood Team of the Century.
“In 1974, Mr Oatey crossed over to Sturt to play in a League premiership, under his father Jack, who was the Double Blues’ coach at that time.
“Mr Oatey’s unmatched commitment to coaching at an SANFL level was recognised on a number of occasions, not least of all through his life memberships of both Sturt and Norwood and his State Coaching roles in the late 80s and 90s.
“For almost 20 years Oatey was the SANFL coaching co-ordinator and league manager, his commitment matched only by that of his father and family.
“While there will be much to remember Robert Oatey for, his involvement in establishing the recognised coaching credentials will see him stand-alone as an innovative coach, master teacher and unmatched tactical thinker.
“Having represented South Australia on the football field on nine occasions Mr Oatey was fittingly awarded his Order of Australia Medal in 2008 for his service to Australian Football as a coach and as a contributor to the development of young players.
“Well into his 70s, he took kicking sessions at Norwood, where current AFL players such as Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia Collingwood’s James Aish and North Melbourne’s Trent Dumont learned about ‘kicking the kick’.
“(Mr) Oatey is survived by wife Raelee, son David, daughter Petrea and a football legacy that is unrivalled in South Australia.
“Vale Robert Oatey.”