Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate that everybody in the parliament is very concerned about issues being raised in respect of services provided to children who visit Parliament House under the school visitation program. I, like everybody else in the building, am very encouraging of our schools visiting the parliament. As chair of the Parliamentary Education Office Advisory Committee I, like many others on that committee, would in no way want to see this program altered or changed. My attention has been drawn to media reports about the provision of hospitality for school groups visiting Parliament House. I have been advised that the Department of the House of Representatives briefed the House of Representatives Appropriations and Administrative Committee on the budget outlook for the department last week. I understand that the provision of hospitality for visiting school groups was listed as a savings proposal, but the department decided on Friday it would not proceed with that proposal. Let me repeat that for everybody. It was decided on Friday not to proceed with that proposal. So the service will continue.