Parliament House Matters

Chamber Photography

The SPEAKER (11:52): Before I call the next speaker, I would like to advise the house of the updated conditions for granting the privilege of still photographing and publishing of proceedings of the House of Assembly effective immediately:

1. Fairness of reporting with reasonable balance between both sides of the house and avoidance of undue concentration on any one member.

2 No photographing within the assembly of any events other than on the floor of the chamber without specific prior approval.

3. The use of telephoto lenses to inspect or take photographs of members' or other persons' documents, computer screens, or other electronic devices is not permitted.

4. Flash or other sources of additional light are not permitted.

5. Journalists and photographers to obey any instruction given by the Speaker or from the Speaker through the Clerk of the House of Assembly, the Serjeant-at-Arms, assembly attendants or police.

6. In the case of an unusual or important event occurring on the floor of the chamber (outside the above guidelines) the Speaker's approval must be obtained to publish photographs of that event.

7. It is a fundamental term of these conditions that any breach of any of them may result in the immediate suspension of the privilege by the Speaker.

Note that committees of the House of Assembly may have conditions for photographing or publishing their proceedings which are at variance with the above. Of course, these conditions are subject to review.