Independent member for Warringah, Zali Steggall has called on the Albanese government to nominate a woman for speaker in the House of Representatives following the vast influence of female voters at May 21’s election.
Steggall, who famously claimed former PM Tony Abbott’s long-held Liberal seat at the 2019 Federal Election and arguably spurred a subsequent teal revolution, says there is a wealth of female talent in parliament for the new government to choose from, and has thrown her own support behind Independent, Rebekah Sharkie.
“She’s been in the parliament for three terms. She’s experienced, she’s worked with both sides, she’s been in a party situation and so I think she would be very appropriate,” Steggall told reporters on Monday.
Steggall also noted that to ignore the opportunity to elect a woman to the prestigious role would send a pointed message to female voters who had made their position clear on gender equality.
“Women want a seat at the table, and there is talk of Labor putting a lot more women on their front bench, which is good,” she said. “But in circumstances where you have a prime minister and treasurer, who are male and you have a leader of the opposition who is male, I think a female speaker would be more than appropriate.”
The speaker is responsible for order of the chamber by ensuring MPs abide by the rules and that correct parliamentary procedure is followed. They are expected to perform the role impartially.
Joan Child, an Australian Labor Party (ALP) Member of Parliament until 1990, was the first woman to hold the important office of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Labor’s Anna Burke became the second female speaker to hold the role during the Gillard era, famously expelling then opposition leader Tony Abbott from the chamber after he failed to comply with her orders.
While the LNP’s Bronwyn Bishop then held the role from November 2013 to August 2015 before resigning over a $5,500 taxpayer-funded helicopter ride.
The speaker’s salary is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory body. As of 1 July 2019, the incumbent is entitled to a parliamentarian’s base salary of $211,250 plus an additional 75% loading, equating to a salary of approximately $369,700.
While Albanese clinched a majority this morning, Independents are urging him to engage meaningfully with the expanded crossbench during his tenure if he’s serious about changing parliamentary culture.