Greens oppose Gillard speech in Parliament
A proposal for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to speak in a parliamentary session during her visit to New Zealand this week was opposed by the Green Party.
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A proposal for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to speak in a parliamentary session during her visit to New Zealand this week was opposed by the Green Party.
Ms Gillard, who arrives in New Zealand for the two-day visit tomorrow, will become the first foreign leader to speak in Parliament when she gives a speech on Wednesday.
She will speak in the debating chamber but not during a formal sitting of Parliament.
Speaking on Breakfast this morning, Prime Minister John Key said he had pushed for Ms Gillard to speak in a session of Parliament but that the Green Party had opposed the idea.
"You wouldn't offer that opportunity to every leader, but Julia Gillard is not every leader, she is the Prime Minister of Australia," Mr Key said.
"I think it's only appropriate that any leader to speak in our Parliament would be an Australian because that is our most important, critical partner."
However, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said sitting sessions of Parliament were reserved solely for elected representatives and that changing the rule would set a precedent.
"We've always said 'no one else on to the floor of the house except the elected representatives', that's a fundamental principle of our democracy, so we don't see any reason to break with that tradition," he said.
"If we change this long-standing rule then it will create a slippery slope which could undermine the democratic sovereignty of our Parliament."
Labour leader Phil Goff said he supported the decision to have Ms Gillard speak in Parliament, and the fact that the house was not formally sitting did not detract from the event.
"This is a chance for us to have a serious discussion with Julia Gillard and it's better that it's done in that context than with the clinking of glasses and cutlery at the parliamentary banquet."
Mr Goff agreed it was ironic that Dr Norman, who is originally from Australia, had led the protest against Ms Gillard speaking during a sitting.
NZPA
Mon, 14 Feb 2011
Mon, 14 Feb 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
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Greens oppose Gillard speech in Parliament
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