The Usher of the Black Rod is displeased

The Usher of the Black Rod has admonished the federal parliamentary Press Gallery for “discourteous” and “dangerous” behaviour in its pursuit of scoops, in a extraordinary missive sent to journos yesterday afternoon.

The churlish note, which reads in parts like something sent by a headmaster to his recalcitrant pupils, cited “widespread breaches of the guidelines particularly in relation to private areas of Parliament house”.

“Uninvited photographing, filming and interviewing of parliamentarians adjacent to Aussie’s Shop” and “the pursuit of parliamentarians in corridors, lifts, stairwells and car parks” was a definite no-no, said the letter, signed by Brien Harllett, the Usher, and Claressa Surtees, his equivalent in the lower house.

Although a note reiterating the guidelines is often sent to the media before the start of a new Parliament, the latest was incendiary in its brusqueness, according to one member of the gallery who chose to remain anonymous.

Crikey understands that the blast was partly prompted by this Sam Maiden story in last Friday’s Australian, which reported a conversation between Julia Gillard and incumbent Speaker Harry Jenkins, along with an accompanying mobile phone snap. Jenkins, Maiden mused, must have been checking whether he still had a job, although because she didn’t hear the muttering, it was unclear what transpired. The senior correspondent reportedly took the pic, which nicely framed Jenkins, herself (we asked, but she didn’t respond before deadline).

The letter also cited “instances of security staff being jostled and hit by media equipment” and an “close encounter” between media personnel and a motor vehicle in the parliamentary precincts.

There was reportedly pandemonium in the corridors as the media tracked down the three Conservative independents for some indication of their voting intention during the 18 torturous days it took them to reach a decision on who to make Prime Minister.

Parliamentary Press Gallery chief Phil Hudson told Crikey that the current set of rules were “confusing and conflicting”.

“We want to make them clearer and more workable,” he said.

Hudson also noted that the rules book, which repeats itself in some parts, is tough to follow because there are different restrictions and guidelines depending on what part of the building the journalist finds themselves in.

The letter warns that hacks may not “linger” in corridors in the vicinity of the cabinet room, other ministerial wing corridors and individual senators’ and members suites. In these areas, members of the Press Gallery should also avoid engaging senators or members in conversation.

Crikey‘s Bernard Keane, who said he was “on deadline” when Crikey rang, also said he was “outraged”.

“Stop fucking hassling me, it’s 12.40 and I’ve barely started my second piece,” he said, before slamming down the phone, potentially scaring passing schoolchildren who may have then dobbed him in to one of the presiding officers.