PRIME Minister Julia Gillard seems hell-bent on trashing the Westminster concept of parliamentary democracy before her government’s first sitting day.

In claiming that Independent-Labor MP Rob Oakeshott possesses the “skills and attributes” necessary to fulfil the role of Speaker, she has managed to reduce a farcical situation to a total fiasco.

As much as one may wish to afford Gillard the benefit of the doubt at this early stage of her prime ministership, her assessment of Oakeshott’s character and abilities is so wide of the mark that, if this is any measure of her judgment, she is clearly not a good judge of her fellows.

The nation knows Oakeshott has an extravagant view of himself that is unsupported by any evidence. He has tickets on himself that no one else (Gillard aside) would write.

If she wishes to make him Speaker, and she has the numbers, then it’s upon her head and her head alone – unless her Labor colleagues are foolish enough to permit the decision to support Oakeshott’s gross bid for greater power and money.

It’s inconceivable, for a number of very sound reasons, that the Opposition would support his grab for status and cash.

Above all else, a Speaker needs the respect of his peers. The position calls for an individual possessing dignity and gravitas, as well as a sound understanding of parliamentary practice. Oakeshott fails this most basic of tests on all counts.