Page 3802 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 8 November 1994
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reinforce that view. They say, "I did not realise that you did so many things on the one day" or "I did not realise that you actually vote by calling out yes or no; I thought that you went and pressed a button to vote". There are comments of this kind. There are many misunderstandings and failures to comprehend the way we do things here which would be, I think, usefully dispelled by a measure such as broadcasting. I think that broadcasting or telecasting would actually enhance interest in and understanding of the Assembly and would provide for people to want to come here and see it live because they would be more interested in observing the process and making sure that their interests were being protected in that process.
It should be said, Mr Deputy Speaker, that at the same time we need to be flexible in the way we apply rules on broadcasting. I must say that I think the Federal Parliament's rules in this respect are somewhat stilted. Members who observe that process will note that there are strict rules about what the cameras can cast their lenses over. That was illustrated quite well, I think, a few months ago when that incident occurred where, I think, Mr Howard on the Opposition benches accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives of bias and the gallery of the chamber erupted in applause. The eye naturally would look upwards to see what the people were doing. One would expect in a situation where a cameraman was recording anything else that the camera would do the same thing; but it could not, under the rules of broadcasting that apply in that place, and that was perhaps slightly unfortunate. I think people expect more than a party political broadcast when they watch proceedings in parliament. They expect to see what is going on, and that might include looking at other people's reactions to what is happening, and not just those who are sitting at their desks in the chamber. So, Mr Deputy Speaker, I think there is scope for our being more flexible in those arrangements.
The question has to be asked, "Will members grandstand if they are on camera or being broadcast? Will they", to quote Shakespeare, "strut and fret their hour upon the stage?".
Mr Moore: Surely not. Nobody here would, Gary.
MR HUMPHRIES: I am sure that Mr Moore is right. No-one, surely, in this place could possibly embark on that kind of outrageous behaviour. But I am also confident that if, by some extraordinary phenomenon, they did, people would see through that process. In these circumstances people are under pressure in this chamber. If they are Ministers they have to answer questions, or try to answer questions, without notice, or at least half of them without notice most of the time; they have to respond in debates to things that have been said, to interjections and so on. It tests people's capacity and their mettle, and I think that that comes out in the process of observing those things.
The Chief Minister raised the question of the cost of broadcasting. I notice that Madam Speaker is sitting in a place on the floor of the chamber and, I gather, may well contribute to this debate. I very much look forward to that. That will be a very interesting experience.
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