According to Reuters, Australian Parliament House staff were recently banned from using the affectionate and egalitarian term "mate" to address members of the public. The staff directive was repealed after a flood of public protest.

"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.'"

http://snipurl.com/h5dh