Greens finger Senator over rude gesture.

Greens finger Senator over rude gesture. :

"Senator Julian McGauran gave Opposition senators a rude finger gesture after he was teased about his ability to count the Government's numbers in the Senate during a division."

In my humble opinion, the whole protocol for parliamentary debate needs to be overhauled. The rudeness, sniping, snide remarks, offhand language and gestures and catterwauling are all abolutely undignified. Everytime I listen to parliament I cringe at the gratuitous nastiness and generally uncivilised and disrespectful manner which is tolerated in our parliament. I have never understood it. I believe it is uncalled for. As much as it surprises me to say so, I thought Andrew Downer delivered a very polished, articulate, erudite and clever speech this afternoon and his manner of delivery was impeccably polite and his tone well modulated. He presented his counter arguments to the Kyoto protocol and its opponents in an even, logical fashion and for me, it was the sort of speech I would expect to hear when I listen to our parliament.I didn't get the chance to hear the counter arguments to hear how they stood up. Maybe they were even better. I have also heard Mark Latham and Carmel Lawrence articulate complex views on Lateline and that is the sort of debate I would expect to hear. Respect for another's views is essential for coherent and useful debate. Discussions and debates should be conducted at a tertiary level. These people are supposed to be our leaders so I expect some real skill in verbal skills and technique, so yes, let's do something about it and have some lessons in social etiquette and interpersonal skills.