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maleficent · 08-19-2005, 08:48 AM

Quote:

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- No way, mate!

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has labeled "absurd" a directive requiring security guards at the country's Parliament House to stop addressing visitors and lawmakers as "mate."

And one of his predecessors has called it "rampant pomposity."

The ban was imposed this week among guards and attendants at the building in Canberra, Australian media reported.

"These things are all a matter of context, and that's why it's impractical and absurd to try and ban something," Howard, who in the past has used the term to describe U.S. President George W. Bush, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio Friday.

"There are circumstances where a more formal address is appropriate," he said.

"But in the same conversation you might start off calling somebody you've just met 'sir' or 'madam,' but as you become more familiar with your conversation and your exchange, you might end up saying 'mate."'

Hilary Penfold, secretary for the Department of Parliamentary Services, said the ban was intended to ensure staff did not offend visitors.

She later told The Australian newspaper the ban would be overturned Friday during her department's daily briefing.

Former Labor Party prime minister Bob Hawke was enraged by the ban.

"It's pomposity gone mad," Hawke told ABC radio.

Hawke a former union leader famous for his down-to-earth approach and for holding a beer drinking record while studying at Oxford University, said the term had been useful to him at official functions.

"It gets you out of all sorts of embarrassing situations," he said.

"It's got a nice neutrality about it. I mean, it doesn't imply any intimacy, it shows a reasonable level of respect. I think it's one of our great words."

Heh, you Aussies are getting more and more American-like...