Personal Explanation

Parliament House Lift

Ms REDMOND (Heysen) (15:12): I seek leave to make a personal explanation pursuant to standing order 108.

Leave granted.

Ms REDMOND: Shortly before the lunchbreak today I, along with a number of my colleagues, attempted to attend in the house for a division which had been called. I know that I certainly left my office immediately the bells began ringing. Because I happened to be wearing exceptionally high heels today, I decided I would come via the lift. I went to the lift straightaway, we pressed the button straightaway and, notwithstanding that, we were unable to get to the chamber on time.

The lift of course shows where it is going, and it went down to the basement, then stopped at the lower ground floor. I have no way of guaranteeing that it was other than a member of the house who was using the lift at that time, but there is a sign beside the lift at each level to say that only members of parliament and table staff should be using the lift while the bells are ringing. The consequence of the situation was that at least four members of the opposition were unable to get to the house before the bells finished and the doors were locked.

I would ask, firstly, that the explanation for our absence from that division be noted. It was the member for Kavel, the member for Adelaide, the member for Bragg and myself who were in that situation. We were all trying to get that lift together. We were all denied the ability to vote on the division. It would not have made a difference to the outcome of the division, but I would ask that, if possible, there perhaps be a reminder to other people who work in the building that the rule about not using the lift when the bells are ringing be strictly adhered to.

The SPEAKER: There is material to that effect in the lifts. It is also possible that members whose offices are on the lower ground floor sought to use the lift; we will never know, but I think it is as well that the member made that explanation so that the true gauge of support for the ayes on that matter be known.