'Mate' welcome: Australia lifts ban

AUSTRALIA:   A ban by Australia's Parliament House on the term "mate", a popular colloquialism and symbol of egalitarianism, …

AUSTRALIA:   A ban by Australia's Parliament House on the term "mate", a popular colloquialism and symbol of egalitarianism, has been overturned following a barrage of protest.

Security guards at Parliament House in Canberra had been directed on Thursday to refer to people as "sir" and "ma'am". The ban was imposed after the head of a government department complained about being called "mate".

But a parliamentary circular issued yesterday removed the directive warning staff not to use "mate" when dealing with the public or members of parliament, instead suggesting they use their judgment on when a more formal approach is required.

Former prime minister Bob Hawke said the attempted ban was "pomposity gone mad", while current prime minister John Howard described the ban as "absurd and impractical". - (Reuters)