House debates
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Questions to the Speaker
Parliamentary Computing Network
3:48 pm
Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Yesterday, the member for North Sydney asked me a question related to the parliamentary computing network. The parliamentary computing network operating system uses Internet Explorer version 6 and Adobe PDF reader version 7. That operating system is being progressively upgraded, with some users already on the newer versions. At the request of the Presiding Officers Information Technology Advisory Group, POITAG, last year, it was agreed that, to avoid any disruption, the upgrade of members’ and senators’ officers would be postponed until after the pending federal election.
Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Order! Unfortunately, at the time, the consequences of that delay on product versions such as Explorer and Adobe reader were not considered. I will actually depart from my written script. If members have some concern about the operation of POITAG, I invite them to speak to their colleagues on POITAG.
The upgrade of Internet Explorer has now been scheduled to be completed by the middle of this month. The upgrade of Adobe reader is currently being planned, with implementation in March once testing for compatibility with other parliamentary computing network products, such as ParlInfo, is complete. Any problems or questions about the parliamentary computing network can be referred to the help desk.
Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr Hockey interjecting
Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for North Sydney will leave the chamber for one hour.
The member for North Sydney then left the chamber.
Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for Herbert will resume his seat. I can assure members of the House that I could not give a continental what they think of me as an individual, but I would have hoped that the position of chair could attract some degree of respect. I find it amazing that, in giving a considered answer about matters to do with the administration of this place, the chair was subjected to interjections and the matter has led to this sort of behaviour. If the honourable member for Herbert is seeking, as I hope, to add and assist the chair, because he was present at the meetings of POITAG, I will give him indulgence.
3:52 pm
Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
15:52:18 Mr Speaker, this will assist the House. The reason that POITAG made the decision that you correctly advised us of was that DPS were proposing to move members’ offices to Vista. Members of the POITAG did not want the parliament to move to Vista. We wanted to move directly to Windows 7 and the staff said that was possible. We also did not want disruption to our parliamentary computing network in an election year. That was the reason that we will now move directly to Windows 7, the latest operating system, in the parliament.