Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I want to put on the record that the Greens will not be supporting this motion to increase the security arrangements at Parliament House. The Greens have huge concerns about this particular proposal. We have concerns because we believe it attacks the fundamental principle on which this parliament was built—that is, this parliament was built to ensure that it welcomed the community into the parliament and to ensure that it was politicians who were connected to the work of ordinary members of the community. In fact, the very design was made in such a way that it was politicians that served at the feet of the people—that politicians would be subservient to the people. Integral to the design is this grass roof that allows people to walk above us. I think that says something very profound about the Australian democracy. It is hugely disappointing that these changes go to the very heart of that and they ring fence parts of the parliament to prevent ordinary people from communicating with their politicians.

I think this goes to the heart of the problem that democracies right around the world are experiencing—that is, there is a growing disconnect between politicians and ordinary people. We are here with this measure to further entrench the developing gulf that exists between modern democracy and the people it purports to represent. While we understand that it is important to always remain vigilant and do everything we can to keep people in this building safe, we think these changes go far too far and really do change the fundamental principle that we are here to serve the people.