Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

Before I put the motion, I wish to make some comments in relation to the proposal before the Senate for the security works. The Speaker in the other place gave some information to the House of Representatives this morning, and I intend to also pass on some information and to dispel some myths.

First of all, the Speaker and I take the role of parliamentary security exceptionally seriously. For the last couple of years, we have been working with a security task force. We receive constant professional advice from the Australian Federal Police, from ASIO, from the Attorney-General's Department and also from departmental officials. This advice is always taken into consideration when considering hardening security arrangements within the building and on the external perimeter. The reason this has come before the parliament is that we are required by law to present matters to the parliament where there is a change to or erections on the exterior of the building, which we are doing. The capital works are required to be presented to both chambers. The House of Representatives has passed that without dissent this morning.

Can I just dispel some myths, and these have been in the media in the last couple of days. Firstly, this package of measures will not do some things. It will not restrict the current entry to Parliament House that the public enjoy. In fact, some of the security measures and some of the enhancements within this package will actually make it easier for members of the public to move into the public entrance. The public will still be able to come across the forecourt enter and be screened as normal. But we are enlarging the entrance and enabling more people to come through at a quicker pace. Secondly, this will not in any way change the ability for people to walk over the top of Parliament House. In fact, in 2005 fences were put in place to restrict people from walking over Parliament House. For over 10 years you have not been able to walk over Parliament House. We are realigning fences; we are moving fence lines to a more appropriate position. The fence lines will also be less obtrusive. The fence lines will have no cross members. They have been tested to provide the security enhancement we need but also be less visually obtrusive. Also, some of the security measures will involve the planting of hardened shrubs, which will have an aesthetic appeal as well as providing a security measure. People will still be able to access the roof of Parliament House like they always have done, certainly in the last two years, and that is by elevator. After they have been screened, they can go up to the roof of Parliament House and still walk on the top of Parliament House.

These matters have been placed before the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Staffing and Security Committee. Also, as a number of senators in this room would attest to, I have briefed the Senate leadership meetings on a regular basis. We have had professionals attend those meetings, and every party and every independent senator has been represented at those meetings. I have also made it available in the statement I also tabled yesterday that if any senator wished to view any of the detailed diagrams and detailed plans in relation to those works they had that opportunity to do so. Some senators have taken me up on that offer and I briefed some senators again as recently as yesterday.

Does any other senator wish to seek leave to make any comment? Senator Hinch.