House debates Questions to the Speaker
Air Conditioning
Roger Price Chifley, Australian Labor Party
3:21 pm
Mr Speaker, has your attention been drawn to reports that the Queensland parliament will allow male members to dispense with either a coat or a tie in order to reduce the amount of air conditioning required in the chamber? Given complaints about the inadequate air conditioning in this chamber, will you give consideration to allowing members the same choice as Queensland members of parliament?
David Hawker Speaker
I thank the Chief Opposition Whip. I am aware of some work that has been done on the air conditioning in this chamber and I can assure him that I will continue to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that the temperature in this chamber is not allowed to rise sufficiently that members would feel uncomfortable with their coats.
Roger Price Chifley, Australian Labor Party
Mr Speaker, I take it from that that you will not entertain consideration to relaxing—
Mal Brough Longman, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs
They don’t have air conditioning up there!
Roger Price Chifley, Australian Labor Party
Don’t interject! You are a minister at the table.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The minister will not debate. The Chief Opposition Whip has the call.
Roger Price Chifley, Australian Labor Party
Do I understand from your response, Mr Speaker, that you will not entertain consideration to giving members the same choice that members of the Queensland parliament have?
David Hawker Speaker
I thank the Chief Opposition Whip. As he would be aware, I do believe that we should maintain proper dress standards in this chamber. If the House chooses to ask the occupier of the chair to change those dress standards then obviously I will look at that matter again, but until that point I will endeavour to uphold the standards as I do now.