House debates

Monday, 15 November 2010

Questions to the Speaker

Parliament House: Noise

3:35 pm

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I am reluctant to raise this, but I have raised this matter previously with Parliament House departmental officials. Early in the morning on sitting days there is a tendency for lawnmowers and air blowers to be used outside offices during radio interviews. On one occasion I actually had to stop the interview—I know it is hard to believe, Mr Speaker—until the noise had passed. Given that there is a considerable amount of time when parliament is not sitting and that we do not sit on Fridays, I again request that we do not have the extraordinary noise from lawnmowers and various other machinery being used outside our office windows between 7 am and 9 am.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I will take up the matter raised by the member for North Sydney with appropriate members of the Department of Parliamentary Services.