No 'mates' in Australia's Parliament House
{{date|August 18, 2005}}

Security guards at {{w|Australian Parliament House|Parliament House}} in {{w|Canberra, Australia|Canberra}} have been advised by internal memo not to use the word '[[wikt:mate|mate]]' when communicating with the public.

The Speaker of the [[Australian House of Representatives|house]] has been asked to look into the directive after it was rumoured that a member of [[Australian Parliament|Parliament]] or a senior public servant complained about use of the common [[Australia]]n term.

The Secretary for the Department of Parliamentary Services said on ABC TV: "There was a feeling that they perhaps just needed a reminder that some informality, while it may be appropriate for some people, it may not suit all our visitors."

{{w|Australian Labor Party|Australian Labor Party MP}} Tanya Plibersek said the ban was un-Australian. "I can't tell you how offended I am by this," he said, while reaction from the Liberals and {{w|National Party of Australia|Nationals}} was mixed.

"I think that people should get off their high horse and take a reality check," said Liberal backbencher Bob Baldwin, who believes the word should be treated as a badge of honour. "I have never seen anything so criminal in all my life. It's part of the Australian vernacular. It's a term of endearment and of mateship."

Nationals MP Paul Neville said "If they want to call me mate or buddy or something like that, I'm not the least bit offended."

== Sources ==
*{{source|url= http://theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16306050%255E1702,00.html
|title=  Banned from saying 'mate'
|author= Sophie Price
|pub= The Australian (News Limited)
|date=August 18, 2005}}
<!-- Hint: If you are citing BBC News, leave the author blank and put "BBC News" in the "pub" parameter. -->

*{{source|url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1440979.htm 
|title= Parliament guards told no more 'mate'
|author=
|pub= ABC News (Australia)
|date=August 18, 2005}}

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[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Australian Parliament]]
[[Category:Australian House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Canberra]]
[[Category:Australian Capital Territory]]
[[Category:Liberal Party (Australia)]]
Security guards at Parliament House in Canberra have been advised by internal memo not to use the word 'mate' when communicating with the public.

The Speaker of the house has been asked to look into the directive after it was rumoured that a member of Parliament or a senior public servant complained about use of the common Australian term.

The Secretary for the Department of Parliamentary Services said on ABC TV: "There was a feeling that they perhaps just needed a reminder that some informality, while it may be appropriate for some people, it may not suit all our visitors."

Australian Labor Party MP Tanya Plibersek said the ban was un-Australian. "I can't tell you how offended I am by this," he said, while reaction from the Liberals and Nationals was mixed.

"I think that people should get off their high horse and take a reality check," said Liberal backbencher Bob Baldwin, who believes the word should be treated as a badge of honour. "I have never seen anything so criminal in all my life. It's part of the Australian vernacular. It's a term of endearment and of mateship."

Nationals MP Paul Neville said "If they want to call me mate or buddy or something like that, I'm not the least bit offended."

*
Australia Politics and conflicts Oceania Australian Parliament Australian House of Representatives Canberra Australian Capital Territory Liberal Party (Australia)