Speakers Program

The first federal Australian Parliament originally sat in what is now the Victorian Parliament building in Melbourne. A temporary Parliament House was later built on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin., and that building is still there today.

The final Parliament House, was designed and built by the Fraser Government on the top of Capitol Hill above. and overlooking. Lake Burley Griffin.

Alan said that the project brief was adamant that it was not be anything like the Opera House!

1. Requirements  of accommodation for the new  Parliament House differs from other parliament houses in that, apart from having  a lower chamber and an upper chamber, like many other  houses of parliament , it houses all the functions of the Federal parliamentary process in the one building, including all ministerial offices, and their associated functions. Also included are the library, the press gallery, and a variety of public areas : restaurants, meeting areas,  parking, etc.
2. The finished Parliament House was opened in 1988  by the Queen,
3. Siting of the building: the comment is that , being on the top of a hill, and surrounded by wide roads, it feels a bit isolated.
4. Operation of the Parliament: It has sittings over 22 weeks of the year, and 6 weeks for committee hearings. Ministers and their staff are mostly there all year; and  the building is open all day, for 24 hours, for all 365 days of the year. The press gallery is open 24/7.
5. People on site:  76 Senators, 151  House of Reps,  400 to 500 advisors, chamber staff approx. 400 to help speakers run their houses, 1000 Department of Parliamentary services: Hansard staff, Library, events staff, project managers, IT and Security staff inc. 150 armed guards, 300 press gallery, Lobbyists- many around Budget Time. and Tourists - around 2500/ day.
6. Significant Events while Alan was working in Canberra:                                                                                                                                                                Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation                                                                                                                                                                          Lehman Bros Collapse and Turnbull's excellent explanation of what happened                                                                                                                      The great joy of Julia Gillard becoming PM                                                                                                                                                                      Obama's visit to Canberra                                                                                                                                                                                                              The need to update and upgrade security eliminating the parking of buses under the building
7. Problems of working on site in Parliament House: There are a lot of people working under pressure over long hours. So problems do arise and these have to be managed carefully and sensitively. One of the problems is that there is a lot of alcohol around.  There is the thought that alcohol should be banned from the parliamentary workplace.    

Tony Broughton 29/03/2023