July 7, 2021

PARLIAMENT DEBATE: Upper House Adopts Report On Senator Anil Roberts’ “Kangaroo” Comment

By Newsroom

The Senate voted on Wednesday evening to adopt a report compiled by the Privileges Committee of Parliament, over comments made by UNC Senator Anil Roberts for comments he made about the business of the House and its President, Christine Kangaloo. 

The debate was presided over by Senate Vice President, Nigel de Freitas, with President Kangaloo recusing herself as there was a conflict of interest given Senator Roberts’ statements were directed on her. 

How did we get here- and what did Anil Roberts say?

Senator Roberts was referred to the Privileges Committee back in March, for comments he made on his online show DouglAR Politics, directed at the manner in which the Senate’s business is conducted.

After being scolded in the Upper house for disruptive behavior,  Roberts took to his talk show on February 23 and 26, 2021, referring to himself as “booming voice” and the Senate, as “Kangaroo Court”.

The motion was brought during the Senate by then Leader of Government Business in the Senate, the late Franklin Khan.

“While this may appear to some as harmless comedy, it is not. It is in fact a dangerous pattern of conduct on the part of this Member that threatens this institution of democracy,” Khan said.

But…were Roberts’ comments meant to ridicule Senate President Kangaloo?

As debate got underway in the Senate on Wednesday, fellow Opposition Senator Damian Lyder argued that Robert’s controversial ‘Kangaroo’ comment was not directed at Senate President Kangaloo, but rather was made as a sport reference- more specifically, the Australian cricket team.

But leader of Government business in the Senate, Clarence Rambharat, dismissed the position as a “cock and bull” defense.

“I have three children, I’ve heard a lot of fairytales in my life. But for a big man, an adult in a Parliament, given 30 minutes to say Senator Roberts is a sports fan, a cricket fan, around that time the Australians were playing – I mean they invented the term ‘cock and bull’ for a story like that –and I would add another word to ‘bull,’ given the chance,” Senator Rambharat said.

 

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