While people are generally free to poke fun at politicians - within the boundaries of defamation law - footage of MPs from the Queensland Parliament cannot be used for satire or ridicule, political advertising or commercial advertising, under the terms and conditions of its use. Loading Reucassel, a member of the satirical team The Chaser, said enforcing "antiquated laws" protecting politicians from satire and ridicule was ridiculous, and the restrictions should be removed. "This is an unjustified restriction on freedom of speech," he said. "We can satirise and ridicule our politicians if they are outside of Parliament, so why restrict the community doing the same if they are in Parliament?

"If anything, Parliament is where they represent the public. We own the footage as we pay for it and we have elected our representatives. "The High Court established that there is an implied freedom of speech when it comes to political communication and yet we still see some politicians trying to protect themselves with outdated regulations." Reucassel said the rules limited journalists and performers because they could not satirise comments made by MPs made in Parliament. "(This is) Despite the fact this is one of the key places that politicians make decisions that affect us all," he said. "Politicians have some of the thickest skins in Australia, so I don't see why they need this outdated protection of their performance in parliaments.

"Maybe if politicians treated parliaments with the utmost respect and politeness they'd have a better argument against satire and ridicule of their performances." Loading The rules apply to ordinary citizens, not just media organisations and politicians, as Ms Madigan discovered late last year. It is unusual for a member of the public to be hauled before the powerful ethics committee, which normally deals with MPs. No further action was recommended in relation to Ms Madigan's "relatively minor" contempt. The ethics committee has the power to force apologies, issue fines and order time in jail for acts of contempt.

In the ruling on Ms Madigan's matter, committee chair Joe Kelly noted that parliaments in several similar jurisdictions had removed the ban on using the footage for satire or ridicule. "While beyond the scope of the terms of reference for this committee, it may be timely for the Queensland Parliament to consider the matter," he wrote. The Abbott government overturned rules banning photos of politicians being taken in federal Parliament from being used to satirise them in 2013, but digital manipulation of film or images is still prohibited. British comedian John Oliver occasionally uses his popular HBP show Last Week Tonight to mock similar restrictions surrounding the British Parliament. Queensland Speaker Curtis Pitt said the ban had been in place since the beginning of broadcasts in the mid-2000s, and was adopted in Queensland as it was standard in other jurisdictions at the time.

"There is nothing I like more than good satire," he said. "However, when this issue arose last year, as Speaker I was upholding the parliamentary broadcast terms and conditions that were already in place." Speaker Curtis Pitt has defended the ban. Credit:Photo: Chris Hyde Mr Pitt argued the current rules did not curtail freedom of speech. "People are entitled to put forward their views but the current arrangements say they must do this without using footage or images from the Parliament," he said.

"I have never shied away from considering whether we need to review the parliamentary broadcast terms and conditions to ensure they are relevant in the current media environment - particularly regarding social media." Mr Pitt said he had not received a request from the Premier to consider a review of the terms and conditions but he would consider one if received. "However, any review will need to carefully consider whether any changes to the terms and conditions may lead to unintended negative outcomes, including further diminishing the dignity of the House and its members," he said. In response to a petition calling for a relaxation of the rules last year, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government would consider, in consultation with the Speaker, whether an inquiry into the terms and conditions was required. A spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk said that conversation was yet to happen.