Chlöe Swarbrick ordered to leave Parliament again during session

Keywords: Chlöe Swarbrick, Parliament, New Zealand, Green Party, Question Time, Speaker of the House, parliamentary conduct, political debate, MP removal, New Zealand politics
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Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Chlöe Swarbrick Ordered to Leave House Again as Parliament Meets

August 13, 2025 — As Parliament reconvened for a critical session, tensions flared once again when Chlöe Swarbrick, a prominent Green Party MP, was ordered to leave the House of Representatives for a second time in less than a week. The incident has sparked a wave of debate across political circles and the public, with many questioning the conduct of both the MP and the Speaker of the House.


A Repeated Disruption

The incident occurred during a heated question time session, where Swarbrick was reportedly seen moving from her seat to the Speaker’s table, an act that is typically reserved for MPs who wish to raise points of order or seek clarification on procedural matters. According to witnesses, the Speaker immediately called for order and instructed Swarbrick to return to her seat. When she refused, she was escorted out of the chamber by security personnel.


This is not the first time Swarbrick has been asked to leave the House. Just days earlier, she had been removed for a similar breach of decorum, which led to a brief but intense media storm. While some have criticized her actions as unbecoming of a parliamentarian, others have defended her, arguing that she is simply exercising her right to speak out on issues she deems important.


Swarbrick’s Defiant Response

In response to the incident, Swarbrick was quoted as saying, “I don’t know what I have to apologise for. I was simply trying to make sure that my voice was heard.” Her comments have been met with mixed reactions, with some constituents applauding her boldness, while others have called for her to be held accountable for her actions.


The Speaker of the House has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident, but sources within Parliament suggest that the matter is being reviewed by the relevant committees. There are also murmurs of potential disciplinary action, though no formal charges have been brought against the MP at this time.


A Broader Debate on Parliamentary Conduct

The incident has reignited a broader debate about the conduct of MPs in Parliament and the balance between free speech and decorum. Some argue that the rules governing the House are outdated and need to be modernized to reflect the realities of contemporary politics. Others, however, believe that the rules are necessary to maintain order and ensure that all MPs are treated with respect.


As the session continues, the focus will be on how the House handles this situation and whether it will set a precedent for future conduct. With the upcoming election season on the horizon, the incident could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in New Zealand.


In the meantime, the public is watching closely, eager to see how the House of Representatives will respond to this latest disruption and what it might mean for the future of parliamentary proceedings.