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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-09 Daily Xml
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Parliament House Matters

TELEVISION CAMERAS

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): On the last sitting day, I asked you about another camera that was in the gallery. It appears that my suspicions were well founded and that the camera was, in fact, placed there by the Premier's department. I ask you—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I would like to know what the member for MacKillop is actually doing. Is he asking a question? Is he taking a point of order? We do not have free rambling speeches in our standing orders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for MacKillop, are you asking me a question or are you waiting until question time?

Mr WILLIAMS: No, I am asking for some information from yourself, Madam Speaker. I am asking: what permission did the Premier's office have for operating the camera from the gallery? What was the purpose of the filming from the gallery by the Premier's office? Will all of the footage taken by that camera be available to all members of the house? Can the house now be assured that such blatant political abuse will no longer be accepted? Madam Speaker—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Well, for the benefit of you people there—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, your point of order?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, in order to be able to speak, you have to be pursuing some item of government business or you have to be taking a point of order. This is not an opportunity for the member for MacKillop to make a long speech on whatever happens to occupy his mind at present.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER (14:06): Order! The member for MacKillop, sit down! Minister for Transport, I did give him the indulgence of trying to find out what he was actually trying to do, so I will respond to his question now. There was an issue, of course, on that last sitting day. There was a member of the Premier's office in the house for the purposes of recording, but I am advised by the Manager of Communications from the Premier's office that he will not be seeking further approval for this to continue. He assures me that in the short period the office had a presence in the gallery, he had at all times abided by the rules of the house. Further, he had only recorded statements made to the house by ministers for replay on the Premier's website.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You will listen to my response. You can ask questions later. I am assured that at no time has any recording been made in the house of the Leader of the Opposition or any member of the opposition. I am also assured that no recordings have ever been used, nor will ever be used, for party political purposes. The purpose of this activity was to provide enhanced content for the Premier's website and, while a video camera was used as a recording device, most of the recordings made were reproduced only as audio.

There have been occasions, however, where video of the statements made by the Premier were forwarded to relevant third parties; for example, in the last week there was the passing of Aboriginal elder Garnett Wilson. He made a statement on that, and that was provided to Mr Wilson's family.

I am sure that the staff member has not concealed his presence, his identity or the purpose of his attendance. Several months ago he was asked by an opposition frontbencher where he was from and apparently answered honestly and without hesitation.

When this matter was first raised in the house during the last sitting week, I was under the mistaken impression that the camera I had seen in the gallery was Sky television and naturally did not recall seeing any other camera, apart from the media stations, and did not appreciate the substance of the question. I intended to follow it up with the Clerk and find out when or if he knew of another camera in the chamber.

In subsequent discussions with the Manager of Communications, there was a genuine belief from them that permission was granted from the Speaker's office in late April or early May of this year for a representative from his office to electronically record from the Strangers Gallery in accordance with what are the longstanding guidelines of this house. I have no record of this request, because it was made prior to my election as Speaker, and I believe it may have been lost or a communication breakdown occurred in that period between the election and my election as Speaker.

I was asked a question in the house regarding the camera. I conferred with the Clerk, and it appears he was also under the same misunderstanding as myself, and I believe other members also in this place, that it was a Sky camera. However, this should not in any way be seen as a precedent, and any future request for any recording by a third party will be considered on its merits with due regard to maintaining a high standard of conduct and, ultimately, upholding the integrity of this house.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek clarification of your ruling. Whilst you indicate that you will determine on a case-by-case basis applications for photographic recording in this house—and I understand that—am I to understand that, if any member were to apply to your office to seek to do a recording, provided they comply with the same conditions of the undertaking that was given to your office, that would be granted?

The SPEAKER: Each case would be looked at on its merits. There are fairly strict guidelines that we always adhere to, so it would be considered on those merits, but anybody is able to make that request to me.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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