Sirs and Dames not legal?

Quentin Bryce in the SMH

Oh dear, perhaps conferring Imperial Honours on the outgoing and incoming Governor Generals in Australia was not legal?

The picture the Sydney Morning Herald used to illustrate this breaking news shows a laughing outgoing Governor General Quentin Bryce, which says it all really. There was talk that Prime Minister Abbott had shafted the popular and charming Bryce by nominating her as Dame (an honour she could not refuse without getting into a dog fight with Abbott)  because her son-in-law is current leader of the opposition and she herself is a republican. She accepted the honour but said she wouldn't use it. Now we find it may not be hers to use!


In the meantime, here is a little video that shows Australia's reaction to the Sirs and Dames issue.

Parliamentary giggles

Bronwyn Bishop (is not amused)

The Australian Parliament dissolved into giggles last week when Australian parliamentary opposition members found they couldn't control their mirth about the 'Dames and Sirs' issue.

They were ejected from Parliament for laughing by the frowningly stern speaker Bronwyn Bishop (who is a member of the ruling Liberal party).


Not everywhere do politicians find laughter so objectionable. This video from the Swiss Parliament is delightful, even if you don't understand German.

In fact the politician in the pinstriped suit, Hans-Rudolf Merz, is talking about meat products. He found some of the bureaucratic language amusing and obviously his Parliamentary colleagues did too!