Sir Lockwood Smith: Former Speaker of the House on the protest, behaviour in Parliament during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill

A former Parliamentary Speaker says standards of the House have slipped in recent years.

During debate around ACT's Treaty Principles Bill, Labour's Willie Jackson called David Seymour a liar, while Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi compared the party to the KKK.

Former Speaker of the House, Sir Lockwood Smith told Mike Hosking that this is “as bad as he's ever seen the House”.

He said it was “really sad” to see Parliament.

“The whole standard of the place has been lowered in recent years.

“Once you start letting it slip, another inch happens, another centimetre.”

Smith argued standards had been slipping in the house for a while.

“Parliament is meant to be where people we chose to represent us… they are meant to be the leaders of our communities.

“Parliament is the highest court in the land, our most respected citizens.”

Smith said Brownlee should not be blamed and he had “no choice” but to clear the House.

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