Labor has finally extracted revenge for the defection of Mal Colston by installing Peter Slipper as parliamentary speaker. But how much did Tony Abbott’s strategy help them?
Parliamentary reform
Crikey Clarifier: what is the role of the speaker?
There’s a storm brewing in Canberra over who will be elected Speaker, which side of parliament they will come from and whether their casting vote will be paired with the Deputy Speaker. Crikey went to the experts for answers.
Oakes: No matter who wins, parliament will change for the better
Parliamentary reform has been promised many times before, but nothing has ever come of it. Whatever the result of this year’s federal election, a minority government will be forced to make some valuable changes, writes Laurie Oakes.
Harry Evans: my 40 years of Canberra joy
Harry Evans, Retiring Clerk of the Senate, has seen it all. In a speech to be delivered in Canberra today, he reflects on his time at the helm of a stuffy institution still in need of serious reform.
