 |
Legislative
Council |
|
 |
||
| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
|
Legislative
Council |
|
|
||
| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Administrative Services a question about computer networks within Parliament House.
Leave granted. The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: Mr President, the question may be of some interest to you as well. The Government is facilitating Parliament entering the twentieth century just before it concludes by allowing computer networks to be established within Parliament House. I think this is the last Parliament in Australia to do so. In fact, apart from almost all the African States, we are probably one of the last in the Commonwealth, as well. I think we are all thankful that it is happening. The Government established a consultative committee which had representatives from the Liberal Party, the Labor Party, the Democrats and also I think clerks representing the two Houses. The idea of that consultative committee was that there would be feedback in terms of what the needs and desires of the members of Parliament were in this regard. During those consultations, on behalf of the Democrats I expressed a concern that the Democrats would like to have a file server over which we had total control as distinct from what was being offered, which is what is called a virtual server and which is part of a mainframe located elsewhere and over which you do not have total control. I indicate by the way that I used to manage a computer network for my school before I came into this place, so I have some idea of the implications. There has not been a consultative meeting for some time. I have noticed people busy wiring up the Parliament of late, and so I was just a bit suspicious that perhaps something might be going on. I spoke with the Minister yesterday and said, `We have not been consulted for a while; does this mean that perhaps a decision has been made without further consultation?' He informed me that I would be consulted very soon. I was just leaving the building— The Hon. T.G. Cameron interjecting: The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: The wires are not the problem. Some 2½ hours ago, I was about to leave the building and was walking along the basement corridor and noticed workmen at work. I said, `How are things going?' They said `Yes, quite well.' I said, `How are things going with the mainframe?' They said, `Quite well' and I had a look at the room. On my understanding, the mainframe appears to be fully installed. I said, `What is this?' They said, `These are the party servers.' I said, `Oh, thank you very much.' My very clear impression—and perhaps this is without the Minister's knowledge—is that the consultation that is about to be carried out is a total farce, because indeed all the equipment virtually has been installed, despite pledges of consultation. Will the Minister take that up; will he report back to this place on whether or not the Parliament has any say about what is being installed; and will he say whether, in the first instance, it is a decision of bureaucrats within his department without his knowledge? Mr President, perhaps you should be concerned about whether or not the real needs of Parliament and this Chamber are being properly catered for within this process.The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: I thank the honourable member for his question, although I am rather disappointed that he has sought to air in this Chamber a conversation that I had with him yesterday, which I understood to be—
The Hon. M.J. Elliott: I was being positive about you. The PRESIDENT: Order!The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: —a private conversation.
The Hon. M.J. Elliott interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Notwithstanding that, it is true, as the honourable member says, that there is a parliamentary consultative committee of the MAPICS project. It does comprise representatives of the Parties, yourself, Mr President, the Speaker and officers of the Parliament. At its last meeting that committee had before it a number of suggested designs for the parliamentary local area network, which is an important part of the MAPICS project. The committee was informed then—and members will be well aware—that one of the important elements in the project was to ensure that Parliament House is appropriately wired for the introduction of the full local area network and also to connect members, parliamentary officers and other divisions of the Parliament to the network. That process of wiring and rewiring the building was necessary, irrespective of the particular design for the local area network that was decided upon.
511 Mr President, you will be aware that a number of options were laid before the consultative committee for its views. As the honourable member has seen fit to air the private conversation that I had with him yesterday, I will tell the Council what I actually said. I indicated to the honourable member that a consultant had been engaged to advise on the appropriate form of local area network and, in particular, the type of server arrangements that will be necessary in order to ensure that the privacy of members and the security of information are maintained.
A number of models have been adopted in other Parliaments. For example, in the Federal Parliament there is a centrally driven network and what are called virtual networks for the parliamentary divisions and political Parties. That particular model did not initially appeal to the Hon. Michael Elliott who, no doubt from his vast experience in organising a school computer network, was not satisfied with that arrangement. In a spirit of cooperation with the honourable member, as I have said, we engaged a consultant. As I told the honourable member yesterday, that consultant—
The Hon. R.I. Lucas: This was in a private conversation?
The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Yes, in a private conversation, which I will make available to the parties. I told the Hon. Michael Elliott that the consultant would contact him shortly to make an appointment to explain to him the various options that the consultant was going to adopt. Likewise, the consultant will speak with the members of the Australian Labor Party. The Hon. Paul Holloway was not in the—
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. J.F. Stefani interjecting:
The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: That's right. Labor, you and non-you and all other Parties will be consulted. What the workman was doing in the basement—
Members interjecting:
The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: All members will be consulted.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Elliott!
The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Mr President, you will be delighted to know that those responsible for finalising the design of the network will be in touch with all members or their representatives.
The Hon. Diana Laidlaw: Before they are finalised? The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Before they are finalised. Regarding the work that is being done in the basement at the moment, I will have inquiries made and bring back a report. The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: By way of a supplementary question, I ask the Minister whether this consultation will involve genuine choice or whether the consultant will tell us what has already happened. The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: It will involve genuine consultation. We will be delighted to hear the views of all members.