Headwear embarrassment in SA Parliament

But not for independent MP Bob Such, with whom I am in substantial agreement.

Independent MP Bob Such was told off by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Lyn Breuer.

But for no good reason that I am able to discern.

(I have to tread carefully here. Ancient anachronistic monarchical feudal strictures called ‘Contempt of Parliament’ unfairly restrict freedom of speech here in Oz.

I could be gaoled, for eternity, yes your read it correctly, that is: at her Majesty’s pleasure, the Queen of Australia, for making a slightly negative comment about the speaker of our local House of Assembly, the Right Honorable Lyn Breuer, who goes to the toilet just like you and I, as does Lizzie.)

She had asked someone in the public gallery wearing a period costume to remove her hat.

Note that, members of the jury.

It prompted Dr Such to ask if that applied to people wearing other headwear.

Also note that eminently reasonable enquiry.

“Madam Speaker, my question is to you, you earlier ruled that Muriel Matters was out order for wearing a head covering in this chamber. Would that apply to someone wearing a hoodie a turban or a burka?” he said.

The reasonable enquiry as outlined.

Dr Such told the speaker he had asked the question unaware that several women in the gallery were wearing traditional head scarves.

Ms Breuer criticised the timing of the MP’s question.

Eh? Timing?

“This is very unfortunate that you asked this question, Member for Fisher, and I’m very angry that you did because there are people in the gallery who are wearing their traditional headgear,” she said.

I can understand why the intelligent Hon. Dr. Bob Such, MP might ask as to exactly why a female was being ejected for wearing “period hat” whilst those in the same gallery who wore Islamic head-scarves were not.
I can completely understand his “point” and, were I an M.P., would have been one that I would have presented most vigorously, as an example (of what I thought of as) a clear example of religious bias, if not cowardice.

Where is the anger rightly directed?

“But … if anybody upstairs has been asked to leave then I apologise for that it should not have happened.”

So, I take it that this means that Bob was correct in pointing out the discrepancy?

We need more pollies like Bob Such!