Great Scot May 2020 Great Scot 159_MAY 2020_ONLINE_V3 | Page 43

RIGHT: THE BOYS AND TEACHERS
WITH TREASURER AND
MEMBER FOR KOOYONG, JOSH
FRYDENBERG
ABOVE: THE POLITICS STUDENTS,
ALONG WITH TEACHERS MRS
NARELLE SHEEZEL AND MR
FRANK MAGUIRE, MET PRIME
MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON
DURING THEIR DAY AT
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
WHISTLESTOP TOUR OF THE
AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT
SEVEN BOYS GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY
In late February, when bushfire recovery and sport rorts were still
sharing the daily news with the emerging coronavirus pandemic, the
six students of the 3/4 Australian Politics class were privileged to
visit the Australian Parliament in Canberra. Accompanied by School
Captain Will Dixon and teachers Mr Frank Maguire and Mrs Narelle
Sheezel, the boys gained valuable insights into Australian democracy
on this single-day excursion.
Meetings with politicians formed some of the most exciting
parts of the day. The first was with Deputy Prime Minister, Michael
McCormack, in the Nationals’ party room, where we engaged
in a discussion about the qualities needed to be an effective
parliamentary representative and leader. We also met the Nationals’
Chief Whip, Damien Drum.
Josh Frydenberg, Treasurer and Member for Kooyong, welcomed
us to his office to discuss current policy issues and the demands of
being a Cabinet minister and party deputy leader. Just back from a
G20 meeting in the Middle East, Josh had opened a new Holocaust
exhibit at the Australian War Memorial that morning, was about to
meet with the President of Israel, and was preparing for questions
that afternoon in the House about the strength of the Australian
economy. Mid-discussion, the bells rang and Josh had to run to
attend a vote in the House of Representatives.
In a meeting with the Member for Oxley, Milton Dick, we
discussed the challenges of being an effective representative while
serving as an Opposition backbencher. The outer suburban Brisbane
electorate of Oxley, which Milton represents, has an interesting
demography and history, being home to the largest Vietnamese
community in the nation, and having previously been represented
by Pauline Hanson and Bill Hayden. Milton shared with the class the
goals he hopes to achieve in Parliament, to make the finance and
loan industry fairer and clearer for consumers.
Throughout the day we saw a few Old Scotch Collegians,
including ABC journalist and Political Editor, Andrew Probyn (’88),
who enhanced our tour of the press gallery with a visit to the ABC
studio; and Shadow Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus (’73), whom we
witnessed being ejected from Question Time by the Speaker!
After Question Time – the highlight of parliamentary sitting days,
which receives the most press coverage – we met briefly with
Prime Minister Scott Morrison for a quick photo opportunity in the
PM’s suite. Our final meeting was with the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Tony Smith, in the Speaker’s Courtyard.
Tony answered our questions about his role, particularly the
challenge of maintaining impartiality. He highlighted how accusations
of Speaker’s bias are somewhat unfair, as those bending the
Standing Orders are often on the Opposition side of the chamber.
The Speaker explained how he ensures that the interests of his
constituents in the Division of Casey are represented, and also how
he cooperates with the President of the Senate to run Parliament
House.
CLIVE CROSBY – YEAR 12
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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