Speaker’s Statements — Smoke-free Policy—Parliamentary Complex

I wish to make a statement to the House on the smoke-free policy for the parliamentary complex. This supersedes the statement I made to the House on 2 March 2000, Hansard, Volume 582, at pages 947 and 948. The Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003 has, commencing on 10 December 2004, increased the scope and intent of the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990. Parliament enacted the smoke-free legislation and has a duty to ensure that the parliamentary complex environment fully complies with the provisions of the Act. Under section 26(1) of the Parliamentary Service Act, the Speaker is the person invested with the control and administration of the parliamentary precincts. In this capacity I have consulted with the Parliamentary Service, as both the supplier of building services for the complex, and the employer of the majority of complex staff, which in turn has consulted with other agencies housed within the complex. Following that consultation and advice, the smoking policy that applies at present within the parliamentary complex is being reviewed and updated in order to comply with the amended legislation.

Beginning on 10 December 2004 the entire parliamentary complex—that is, Parliament House, the executive wing, Bowen House, and the Parliamentary Library—will be smoke-free. This includes those areas in which smoking has hitherto been permitted—that is, the bar known as Pickwicks, single-person offices with windows opening to the outside, the car-park areas on levels 2 and 3 of Bowen House, the underground garages in Parliament House and the executive wing, and the walkway under the main steps of Parliament House. All these areas are to be smoke-free.

Other smoke-free areas that merit specific mention are the lobbies, Chamber, galleries, the Parliament House conservatory including the bridge, the members’ recreation room, the library veranda, and the balcony outside level 20 of Bowen House. Smoking at the top of the main steps of Parliament House is still prohibited. Smoking is permitted within Parliament grounds but not in or around any entrance ways to the buildings, nor adjacent to any open windows or in any other area from which smoke could enter the buildings.

The policy applies to all occupants of, and visitors to, the parliamentary complex, including members of Parliament, employees of all agencies, members of the press gallery, visiting dignitaries and delegations, function attendees, guests, contractors, and any members of the general public who are visitors to the parliamentary complex. I will ensure that a copy of this statement is sent to all occupants of the complex. The smoke-free policy will be available early next week.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Just reflecting on your rulings with regard to the smoke-free areas around Parliament, I wonder whether you could confirm a suggestion that has been put to me that the Speaker’s flat, in fact, will be a place in which smoking is permissible, and whether you will be bringing down an invitation policy for the House to consider.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: I am pleased that that question has been raised. Absolutely not.