Matters of Interest

Strangers Gallery

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:00): I am sure many in this chamber are familiar with the popular TV show Stranger Things. For those who do not know, it is a sci-fi horror series, where a group of teenagers battle monsters. Indeed, when you think of the word 'stranger', scary things often do come to mind. Whether it be people whom your parents told you to stay away from as a kid or feeling like an outsider yourself, the word 'stranger' is not a nice term.

It is confounding then that we often use this word here in parliament. The chamber's gallery for the public is known as the Strangers Gallery. The dining room for the public is called the Strangers Dining Room, and indeed there is an entire chapter in our standing orders titled Strangers. Recently, on a school visit to Prospect Primary School, a student in year 6 quizzed me on why it is named the Strangers Gallery and for a moment I was stumped. I thought it was a very good question. As I explained the history behind the name, it became very clear that this tradition was outdated, and the children on the tour agreed, asking how it could be changed to something a bit more friendly and, frankly, a little less frightening, something like the people's gallery.

The discussion also prompted me to do a little research of my own. After a little googling, I quickly discovered that other parliaments have moved away from using the word 'strangers', parliaments such as a little place called the Australian federal parliament and the House of Commons in the UK. And these changes have not been made recently. In 2004, almost 20 years ago, the Australian federal parliament revised standing orders to replace the word 'stranger' with 'visitor'. The change was crucial, because we know language is important and words have meaning.

Many have highlighted how the use of the word 'stranger' is yet another symbol of ancient—and I repeat ancient—privileges of parliament. Sadly, it suggests that parliament allows people to enter on tolerance only, not by right. We all know that this building does not exist for those of us in this chamber nor the other place. We do not stand in this chamber representing ourselves. Instead, we stand here to represent South Australians. It seems nonsensical then to refer to the very people we represent, and the very people who own this house, as strangers. Though there are many customs and traditions in the parliamentary process that we maintain and rightfully respect, it is also important to adapt, change and improve when necessary.

We have seen this in the other place when a year 6 student, again, pointed out that there was no Aboriginal flag flying in that chamber. That child was able to change the parliament forever, and as a gift the child received the first ever Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag flown in that place. Since the tour, I have heard from Prospect Primary School that they have written to both the Speaker and the President about this issue and are now writing to the Governor. I would also like to give a special shout-out to Beatrice, Jason, Swanit and Evelyn, who wrote the letter on behalf of fellow students and I believe have raced home from school to listen to this speech. In the letter they write:

We are of the belief that this name, 'strangers', disregards the people of South Australia. Parliament House is owned by members of the public; therefore, the name of the gallery must represent and respect that.

I tend to agree with them. It is time we stopped treating the very people we stand here to represent as strangers; after all, this is the people's house, a house that could do with a little updating to bring it into line with its purpose, and its purpose is to represent fellow South Australians, not strangers.