HOUSE of Representatives Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon has had to remind Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor to stop referring to her as 'Mr Speaker' - before he went on to use the term another four times.
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Speaker Milton Dick was in the Speaker's Chair at 3.27pm on Thursday when Mr Taylor started his speech on the cost of living.
Ms Claydon - who is also the federal member for Newcastle - stepped in to the Speaker's Chair part way through Mr Taylor's speech, at 3.29pm.
After this, Mr Taylor used the term 'Mr Speaker' 29 times.
A spokesperson for Mr Taylor said he was "caught up in the moment of the speech and meant no offence to the Deputy Speaker".
Ms Claydon addressed Mr Taylor during an interjection.
"I have waited because I was loath to interrupt you, but you have called me Mr Speaker on at least a dozen occasions," she said.
"My title is Deputy Speaker. I don't need a Mr, a Mrs, a Madam; it's just Deputy Speaker."
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Mr Taylor apologised and said he would "go with Deputy Speaker" - only to call Ms Claydon 'Mr Speaker' a further four times.
"Thank you, Deputy Speaker. You would have been a very good Speaker!" Mr Taylor said.
"But, Mr Speaker, meanwhile those opposite get rid of the ABCC.
"We know how important that is to productivity.
"We know that that is helping to reduce the cost of construction in this country, Mr Speaker.
"The Treasurer gave us a painting today, Mr Speaker.
"He was a forecaster, not a leader. He was a commentator, not a Treasurer.
"We need a plan, Mr Speaker. That's what Australians want now."
Ms Claydon fired back.
"Seriously, Shadow Treasurer, you are just going to have to dump the 'Mr Speaker' when I am in the chair, okay?" she said.
Her office was contacted for comment.
Ms Claydon was elected Deputy Speaker on July 26 and thanked her Labor colleagues for nominating her and the whole parliament for electing her.
"I am especially humbled to be following in the footsteps of great Labor women - Joan Child, Deputy Speaker from 1984 to 1986 and Anna Burke, Deputy Speaker between 2008 and 2012, in being just the third woman to occupy the role of Deputy Speaker," she said this week, adding the parliament was tasked with implementing the recommendations of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkin's Set the Standard report.
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Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
