House photos ban prompts queries

THE Greens have raised concerns about transparency after Speaker Sue Hickey revoked permission for their staff to photograph parliamentary proceedings during a vote last month.

The issue arose during the most recent sitting week of Parliament, when the Greens brought on a motion seeking members’ support for the climate strike movement.

The party was granted permission to photograph the debate and subsequent vote from the press gallery.

But after a complaint from an MP, Ms Hickey revoked that permission.

After the decision, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor and Greens MP for Franklin Rosalie Woodruff wrote to Ms Hickey on September 26 to seek clarification on the issue.

The Greens said permission was revoked during the vote on the amended motion.

“As members of Parliament, we are all answerable to the people of Tasmania,’’ they wrote in the letter.

“Our vote in the House is a record of our accountability, and a photograph is simply another way of recording the position we take in our vote on any question before the House.

“We are concerned that by revoking permission to record votes in the House, the transparency and accountability of MPs’ actions is diminished.”

The Greens quoted point 7.1 of Parliament House media guidelines, which state: “Still photographs are permitted from the press gallery at any time while the House is sitting. The Speaker’s permission is however required to take photographs or film at any time f rom the Speakers’ Reserve.”

In her response dated September 30, Ms Hickey said the guidelines applied to representatives of media organisations.

Ms Hickey said any other photography could only occur with permission, which was granted on September 25.

“... following a complaint from a member, which I am obliged to consider, I revoked that permission,’’ she wrote.

Ms Hickey noted the Greens’ concerns about transparency and accountability.

“The official record of the proceedings of the House, the votes and proceedings together with Hansard and the audiovisual recording of the proceedings of the House reveal quite clearly the way in which the House divided and the manner in which every member present cast their vote,’’ she said.

“Each of these records are published on the internet site of the Parliament to ensure transparency and the accountability of all members’ actions and conduct in the House.”

The Greens introduced the motion after a rally in Hobart at which about 15,000 people turned out to protest outside Parliament for action on climate change.