Milton Dick: MP kicked out of parliament over ‘muppets’ stunt elected chamber’s new Speaker

A Labor MP best known for being thrown out of parliament for taunting the then-Liberal government with muppets has stepped into a powerful new role. 

Milton Dick was elected as 32nd Speaker of the House of Representatives during the first sitting of parliament on Tuesday. 

Mr Dick was famously booted from the chamber in 2018 after he and his colleague Luke Gosling brought several muppet toys into question time. 

The politicians waved in front of the cameras in a not-so-subtle reference to a comment made by former prime minister Scott Morrison and were famously ejected from the chamber by former Speaker Tony Smith. 

Milton Dick was elected 32nd Speaker of the House of Representatives during the first sitting of parliament on Tuesday (pictured, the MP is seen being ‘dragged’ to the Speaker’s chair)

However, the newly-elected speaker appears to have been forgiven for his question time stunt and was congratulated by Leader of the House Tony Burke. 

He thanked Mr Smith for considering Mr Dick for the role and admitted to the MP it ‘was possibly a difficult thing to put you on the Speaker’s panel’. 

‘I should confess to the parliament that that was my fault,’ Mr Burke continued. 

‘There are photographs circulating on social media of you turning up to the chamber with toy Muppet dolls. 

‘You were thrown out of parliament for that, and it was entirely my idea that you do that. You were chosen on the basis that, at that point, you were the only member of the caucus who had not yet been thrown out. 

‘So, while it was disorder, it was disorder on the basis that you, to that point, for an opposition member, had been too respectful of the system.’

Leader of the House Tony Burke told parliament on Tuesday that it had been his idea for Mr Dick (pictured) to taunt the then-Liberal government with muppets in 2018

The muppets were in reference to a comment made by Scott Morrison after he took over the prime ministership from Malcolm Turnbull (the Labor MP’s in 2018)

The muppets were in reference to a comment made by Scott Morrison after he took over the prime ministership from Malcolm Turnbull. 

‘The curtains have come down on that Muppet Show and an absolute new curtain has lifted up,’ Mr Morrison said during a TV interview. 

Mr Dick was seen being ‘dragged’ to the Speaker’s chair, a parliament tradition. 

‘Speakers are supposed to be dragged to the chair due to fear. It’s a tradition I understand – I’m feeling quite a bit of fear right now,’ he told the chamber.  

The new speaker pledged to allow spirited debate in a respectful manner and ensure parliament remained an inclusive and safe workplace. 

‘The difference is the people of Australia sent a very clear message on how they expect politics to be conducted, they want something different,’ he said. 

‘My message to every member of this place is simple: my door is open.’

Mr Dick was seen being ‘dragged’ to the Speaker’s chair, a parliament tradition

Mr Dick (pictured in 2018) also vowed to implement the recommendations of the Jenkins review of the parliamentary workplace culture as soon as possible

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton congratulated the new Speaker on his election. 

‘I’m absolutely convinced that you will be outstanding as well,’ Mr Albanese said. 

Mr Dick also vowed to implement the recommendations of the Jenkins review of the parliamentary workplace culture as soon as possible. 

Before his election to parliament in 2016, the Labor MP was a Brisbane City councillor and Queensland Labor state secretary. 

NSW Labor MP Sharon Claydon was elected deputy speaker and WA Liberal MP Ian Goodenough the second deputy.