List of recommendations

3.55The Committee recommends that standing order 89 be amended as follows:

89 Offensive words

A Member must not use offensive words, including words that are sexist, racist, homophobic and otherwise exclusionary or discriminatory, against:

(a) either House of the Parliament or a Member of the Parliament; or

(b) a member of the Judiciary.

Recommendation 2

3.85The Committee recommends that the House amend standing order 94(a) as follows:

(a) The Speaker can direct a disorderly Member to leave the Chamber for:

(i) one hour; or

(ii) three hours, where there is continued or escalating disorderly conduct.

The direction shall not be open to debate or dissent, and if the Member does not leave the Chamber immediately, the Speaker can name the Member under the following procedure.

Recommendation 3

3.115The Committee recommends that the Department of the House of Representatives review the guidance material and training available to Members to ensure Members are aware:

words that are sexist, racist, homophobic and otherwise exclusionary or discriminatory are considered offensive words under standing order 89,

disorderly conduct under standing order 91 includes acts of bullying and sexual harassment in the Chamber, and

under standing order 92(b), a Member may draw the Speaker’s attention to the conduct of a Member.

Recommendation 4

3.116The Committee recommends that the Speaker and the Department of the House of Representatives ensure guidance for members of the Speaker’s Panel, and for chairs and deputy chairs of parliamentary committees, is updated to reflect any changes to standing orders made from recommendations in this report.

Recommendation 5

5.17The Committee recommends that House consider establishing a House Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to:

scrutinise the work of the Australian Public Service from a gender, diversity and inclusion perspective

scrutinise the potential effects of proposed legislation on gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and

inquire into and report on matters related to gender, diversity and inclusion.

Recommendation 6

5.33The Committee recommends that, during the next major review of the standing orders, the House consider removing masculine and feminine pronouns from the standing orders, and replacing them with gender-neutral alternatives.