Post by NFA on Oct 20, 2020 20:40:13 GMT 8
COVID-19 Statement by the Presiding Officers regarding sittings of Parliament and Senate Estimates 19 to 30 October 2020
Joint statement from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Tony Smith MP and the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
15 October 2020
The following arrangements will be put in place regarding operations and activities at Australian Parliament House (APH) for the upcoming parliamentary sitting period comprising the House of Representatives and Senate Budget Estimates hearings. These arrangements are the result of consultations between Presiding Officers, Parliamentary Departments and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and are in accordance with the ACT Government’s COVID-19 Easing of Restrictions Roadmap.
Access to Parliament House
APH will again close to the general public for the parliamentary sitting period - Monday 19 October to Friday 30 October 2020.
Proceedings in the House of Representatives may still be followed through the Live Minutes, and both the House and Senate Estimates hearings can be viewed via the APH website.
Arrangements previously in place regarding the operation of the House of Representatives in a COVID-safe manner will continue. Specific arrangements have been put in place for Senate Estimates hearings. Further information for witnesses and officials is available from the Senate Committee Secretariats.
We take this opportunity to remind all parliamentarians, occupants and those attending the building for essential business:
masks should be worn in areas of the building where people are circulating;
if feeling unwell, do not attend APH; and
if unwell while attending APH, seek a COVID test. If a building occupant, report all suspected and confirmed cases to your nominated APH contact point.
The following categories of passholder will lose automatic access to the private areas of the building:
former parliamentarians;
elected members of other legislatures;
volunteers; and
sponsored pass holders.
Only persons needing to conduct essential business should be signed in and sponsors should ensure their visitors leave the building immediately following the conclusion of their business.
Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will also be asked to avoid sponsoring non-essential attendance of escorted media visitors.
Joint statement from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Tony Smith MP and the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
15 October 2020
The following arrangements will be put in place regarding operations and activities at Australian Parliament House (APH) for the upcoming parliamentary sitting period comprising the House of Representatives and Senate Budget Estimates hearings. These arrangements are the result of consultations between Presiding Officers, Parliamentary Departments and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and are in accordance with the ACT Government’s COVID-19 Easing of Restrictions Roadmap.
Access to Parliament House
APH will again close to the general public for the parliamentary sitting period - Monday 19 October to Friday 30 October 2020.
Proceedings in the House of Representatives may still be followed through the Live Minutes, and both the House and Senate Estimates hearings can be viewed via the APH website.
Arrangements previously in place regarding the operation of the House of Representatives in a COVID-safe manner will continue. Specific arrangements have been put in place for Senate Estimates hearings. Further information for witnesses and officials is available from the Senate Committee Secretariats.
We take this opportunity to remind all parliamentarians, occupants and those attending the building for essential business:
masks should be worn in areas of the building where people are circulating;
if feeling unwell, do not attend APH; and
if unwell while attending APH, seek a COVID test. If a building occupant, report all suspected and confirmed cases to your nominated APH contact point.
The following categories of passholder will lose automatic access to the private areas of the building:
former parliamentarians;
elected members of other legislatures;
volunteers; and
sponsored pass holders.
Only persons needing to conduct essential business should be signed in and sponsors should ensure their visitors leave the building immediately following the conclusion of their business.
Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will also be asked to avoid sponsoring non-essential attendance of escorted media visitors.