Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1995-10-12
Mr Speaker, my question relates to a matter of discrimination against me, as an independent MLA, by yourself and the other 23 MLAs in this Chamber. Some time ago, no doubt at the request of CLP and ALP members, you gave consent, I assume, to party members to have hospitality and conviviality dispensers in the government and opposition lobbies. This innovation makes a nonsense of members going all the way up to the fourth floor members' lounge for a measure of conviviality. Subsequently, I made my own personal arrangements. The upshot is that, whilst party members are able to associate with each other and exchange views in an informal way, I cannot do that. This arrangement discriminates against me as an independent MLA. What can you do, Mr Speaker, to bring more equality to this situation and return us all to a situation where members gather convivially in the members' lounge as is the norm in other parliaments and was the norm with our own before this building was occupied?
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Honourable members, I acknowledge the matter that has been raised by the member for Nelson. I accept that, as the only independent member in the Assembly, she has no lobby room but she does have a very commodious office just off the corridor behind the Chamber. Certainly, I will look at means of ensuring that she is not treated unfairly in this House. However, I point out to all members that there is a very good CPA members' lounge on the fourth floor which is very poorly utilised at present. I encourage members to use it as much as possible.
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Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Honourable members, I acknowledge the matter that has been raised by the member for Nelson. I accept that, as the only independent member in the Assembly, she has no lobby room but she does have a very commodious office just off the corridor behind the Chamber. Certainly, I will look at means of ensuring that she is not treated unfairly in this House. However, I point out to all members that there is a very good CPA members' lounge on the fourth floor which is very poorly utilised at present. I encourage members to use it as much as possible.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016