Ban one or ban them all. You can’t have it both ways

So what is it? Ban them all or ban no one.

I don’t watch much TV news, so I don’t know much about Maiki Sherman. But I hear people constantly criticising her.

To be honest, that’s always come with the territory. That job is heavily scrutinised. There are a lot of eyes on you. When you’re operating in that environment, you need to be aware of it.

That said, the best and most driven journalists have always pushed up against Parliament’s rules. In the heat of the chase, with the pressure to beat other outlets, you sometimes shoot first and ask questions later.

I know a journalist who once went through an MP’s rubbish bin.

I’ve had MPs and staff from the other side help me get where I needed to be, even when I wasn’t allowed. It led to footage of the Prime Minister at the time urgently instructing staff as a crisis unfolded. Gold.

And the people helping me were the chief of staff and the chief press secretary at the time.

But it’s too easy to smash TV journalists while others get away with murder.

Cameras record everything in that building. Swipe cards track movements. You can’t hide in there.

So go through the data. It’s not hard. Or get those involved to front up.

The Speaker and his office can do better than this.

Right now, it looks like a witch hunt.

I’ve been there. Suspended twice by different Speakers. Broke the rules plenty of times chasing MPs. Never punished.

So let’s have some balance. Some fairness.

Otherwise, this starts to look like a kangaroo court.