Bruising lessons for Hodgman Government in day of chaos

SPEAKER Sue Hickey has given the government a series of bruising lessons during an afternoon of chaos in the House of Assembly.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor and Labor's Ella Haddad celebrate in State Parliament as Attorney General Elise Archer stands after the passage new legislation about gender law reform. Picture: DAVID KILLICK

SPEAKER Sue Hickey has given the government a series of bruising lessons during an afternoon of chaos in the House of Assembly.

The most important was a reminder of her fierce independence.

The debate over the Justice and Related Legislation (Marriage Amendments) Bill was always going to be contentious.

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But what unfolded in the Lower House was a study in poor strategy on the government’s part.

It a basic maxim of politics not to bring on a vote unless the result is certain.

The government clearly had not done enough to ensure the support of the Speaker on the Bill and clearly hadn’t done enough to persuade her that amendments were not needed.

When it made an attempt to press on with other matters, Ms Hickey suspended the house — an extremely rare move, but one open to a Speaker who believes the will of the house is being defied.

During the suspension, the government vigorously tried to persuade her to change her mind. Ms Hickey was seen on the Parliamentary lawns, taking advice by telephone.

In the end, she stood firm. And the government blinked.

There is some irony in the fact that the bill is the responsibility of Attorney General Elise Archer — someone with Ms Hickey has had a longstanding enmity.

When debate on the bill resumed, the government lost vote after vote on amendments on the floor 12-10.

The government is left with few options.

It may choose to slow the passage of the Bill to the Upper House, something probably not advisable as a federal deadline for changes contained in the legislation is only weeks away.

But what is certain, is that the events of yesterday have tested its relationship with the Speaker — a member of their own party — to the extreme.

It is the first time Ms Hickey has shown the government she is willing to vote against it, repeately, on a matter she finds important.

It is unlikely they will need another reminder that her vote cannot be taken for granted.