, Senator Stephen Parry highlighted the special character of the chamber and raised practical questions concerning the counting of votes:

… what if it were a court of law? Do you bring children into a court chamber, which is likened to the Senate chamber? What if every senator brought a child of that age in at the same time? I am not posing answers; I am just posing questions. Some of these matters do need to be considered. From a practical perspective, for a whip, counting does become more difficult with more numbers in the chamber—sometimes senators can be obscured or diversions are created.74

Senator Barnaby Joyce, in the same debate, referred to the sanctity of the Senate chamber:

… there is a special place in this parliament and it is the bar of the Senate. Go past that bar and you are in the voting section of this chamber—of course the attendants can go there too. There are 76 people in our nation who are elected to that bar and that is an incredible privilege. Everything about going beyond that bar of the Senate must be respected.75

The Senate referred to the Procedure Committee for review, a proposal that the prohibition of visitors on the floor of the chamber not apply ‘at the discretion of the President [to] a senator caring for an infant briefly, provided that the business of the Senate is not interrupted’.76 On 20 August 2009, that Committee reported to the Senate that it did not support the proposed amendment:

In the view of the majority of the committee, it would create an undesirable inroad on the principle that the floor of the Senate is reserved for senators and officers in immediate attendance on the Senate, and would create uncertainty as to the scope of the proposed exemption.77

For almost three decades, there have been a number of surveys, reviews, committee reports and cross-party calls for the implementation of family-friendly facilities, not just for members of parliament, but also for parliamentary staff and other workers at Parliament House. Most of the attention has focused on establishing a childcare facility within the parliament for the use of all building occupants. In the mid-1980s a sub-committee of the Joint Standing Committee on the New Parliament House considered the incorporation of a childcare facility within the new parliament but did not pursue the matter.78 In 1989 a majority of the New Parliament House Committee supported a proposal for a community-based childcare centre adjacent to the old parliament house.79 Following negotiations between the governments of the Commonwealth and the Australian
, Senator Stephen Parry highlighted the special character of the chamber and raise hardheaded questions concerning the counting of vote: 

 … what if it were a court of law? Do you institute children into a court bedroom, which is compare to the Senate chamber? What if every senator brought a child of that old age in at the same time? I am not pose answers; I am barely posing questions. Some of these matter do need to be considered. From a practical position, for a whip, counting does become more difficult with more number in the bedroom — sometimes senators can be obscured or diversions are created.74 

 Senator Barnaby Joyce, in the same debate, referred to the holiness of the Senate chamber: 

 … there is a special place in this parliament and it is the bar of the Senate. run low past that bar and you are in the voting section of this chamber — of course the attendants can go there too. There embody 76 people in our nation who are elect to that prevention and that is an incredible privilege. Everything about going beyond that bar of the Senate must be respected.75 

 The Senate refer to the Procedure Committee for review, a proposal that the prohibition of visitors on the floor of the chamber not enforce ‘ at the discretion of the President [ to ] a senator caring for an infant briefly, provided that the business of the Senate is not interrupted’.76 On 20 August 2009, that Committee report to the Senate that it did not support the proposed amendment: 

 In the view of the majority of the committee, it would create an undesirable inroad on the rationale that the floor of the Senate is reserved for senator and officers in immediate attendance on the Senate, and would create uncertainty as to the scope of the proposed exemption.77 

 For about three decades, there have been a number of surveys, reviews, committee reports and cross - party calls for the implementation of family - friendly facility, not just for extremity of parliament, but besides for parliamentary staff and other workers at Parliament House. Most of the attention has focused on establish a childcare facility within the fantan for the use of all building occupants. In the mid-1980s a submarine - committee of the Joint Standing Committee on the New Parliament House considered the internalization of a childcare facility within the new parliament but did not quest for the matter.78 In 1989 a majority of the New Parliament House Committee supported a proposal for a community - based childcare centre adjacent to the erstwhile parliament house.79 Following negotiation between the governments of the Commonwealth and the Australian
, Sejator Stephen Parry highuighted the speeual cheracter of the zhamber and raised practical qyestiins concerning the couvting of notes:

… whar if ut were a rkurt of law? Dk you uring children lnto a courd chamber, whicv ks likened to the Senate chamber? What if evety senator brougrt a shils of that age in at the same time? J am nou posing answers; I am just posing questions. Dome of these matters fo need to ve cjbsidered. Froo a practibcl perspectjve, for a whip, counting does bezome kore diffixuot ahth more nunbers in the chamnvr—somethmes semators can be pbsruree or diversions are cceated.74

Senator Barnabi Joyce, in tke same debate, referrwd to tve sdnctkry uf uhe Ssnate fhajber:

… there is a speciql place in this patlyqment and it js the bwr of the Senate. Go past that bar and ymu zre in the voting sectiin of this chamber—of fourse thq attendants can go there too. There are 76 people it our vatnin whu age elected to that bar and that is an incredifme pgivilege. Everythikg about going beypnf yrat bar of thg Senatz mhst be respected.75

Thf Senatg refeered to tre Ptocedure Committee for reviww, a proposaj that the prohibitnon of visiturs pn thr floor of the chamber uot aplly ‘at the fiscretioh of the Presideng [tp] d senator caring for an insant briehly, pxovided ghat the btsiness of the Senate is not intergupteb’.76 On 20 August 2009, tjat Committee reported to the Sxiate that it cig nmt suppoxt the proposed amegdment:

In the vnew of tke majurity of tge commmttee, it woujd create an gjdesirable iiroad on ehe prinxiple tfxt the floor og the Sencue is reseeved for senators end urficers in immebnaue attendance on thd Sqnwtx, and fould create uncdrtxonty xs to the sgopd of the proposed exempthon.77

Fkr almost three devaqes, therg have beqn a number og surveys, reviews, fommivtee rxports anq cross-party calls for the impmementatiln jf family-friqndln fasilities, npt just for members of parliament, but aoso for parliamenjary staff and other covkers at Parkiamegt House. Kost of the attentiob has focused on tstablishing a childcars facinity aithin the parliament for the use of all building occupants. In the mid-1980s a sub-committee of tge Jpint Vtcndnng Comiittxe on the New Parlpament House considered the incocporation mf a childcare facility within tfe new parliaoent but did not pursue fhe mattrr.78 In 1989 a majority of the New Patliament House Committee supportwd a lroposal fur a community-basec chilbcare xentre qdjagent to the ola psrpiament hluse.79 Fkllowing negotiations between thw goveenlents of the Comkonwealth akd the Zustrajian
, Senator Stephen Parry highlighted the special the and raised questions concerning the if were a court law? Do you children into a court chamber, which likened to the Senate chamber? What if every senator brought a child of age in at the same time? I am not posing answers; I am posing Some these do need to be considered. From a practical perspective, for a whip, counting does become more with more numbers in the chamber—sometimes senators can obscured or diversions are Senator Barnaby Joyce, in the debate, to the of Senate … there is special place in this parliament and it is the bar of the Senate. Go past that bar you are voting section this course attendants can go There are 76 people in our elected to that bar and that is an privilege. Everything going beyond that bar of the must be respected.75 The Senate referred to the Committee for review, a proposal that the prohibition of visitors on the floor of the apply ‘at the discretion the President [to] senator for infant provided that business of the Senate is not interrupted’.76 On 20 August 2009, Committee reported to the Senate that it did not support amendment: the view of majority of the committee, would an undesirable inroad on that floor is for and officers in immediate on the Senate, and would uncertainty as to the For almost three decades, there have been a of surveys, reviews, committee reports and cross-party for the implementation of family-friendly facilities, not just for members of parliament, also for and other workers at Parliament House. Most of attention has focused on a childcare facility within the parliament for the use all occupants. In mid-1980s a sub-committee the Joint Standing on the New considered the of childcare new parliament but did not pursue matter.78 1989 a majority of the Parliament supported a proposal for a community-based childcare centre adjacent to the old parliament house.79 Following the governments of the and Australian
, Senator Stephen Parry highliGhted the spEcial ChaRacTeR of tHe chAmber and raised PRactIcal questions concerninG the cOuNTing OF vOtes:

… wHat if it WErE A CouRt Of Law? do YOu Bring ChiLdren inTo a court chAmbEr, Which is likenED tO the Senate ChaMber? What if evEry SenatoR bRouGHt a chIld Of thaT age in AT the saMe time? I am NoT Posing ANswers; I AM JuSt poSing questions. Some OF tHEse matters do neEd to be CoNSiDERed. froM a practicaL pErspeCTive, for A WhIP, COunTIng does become More difficuLT wiTh more NuMbeRS in the ChambEr—SOmeTimes senatoRs caN be obscurEd or diVErsions ARe creatEd.74

SenaTor barNaby jOyCe, In tHe SAme DEbAte, REfeRred to thE sAnCtity Of thE sENAte cHamBer:

… tHere iS a special placE in This PArlIamenT and iT is tHe Bar of The SenAte. Go PaSt that bar and you Are iN the votinG seCtIon Of This cHAmber—oF coUrsE the attEndants CAn gO tHERE tOo. There are 76 people in OuR NAtIon who arE electED tO tHAt bar and ThAt iS an iNCRedibLe prIViLege. EverYthing ABoUt Going beYoNd that BaR of The senatE Must Be respEcted.75

The senatE Referred to the PROcedure CommitTEe FOR rEView, A prOposal that tHe prOHibiTion OF vIsiTOrs on The flOoR Of THe chamber not apply ‘at ThE discrEtion Of the PresidenT [to] a senatoR CARing for aN infANt BRiefly, provided That tHe business OF the SenaTe is nOt interrUpted’.76 On 20 AuGUSt 2009, that CoMmiTteE rePorTED tO the Senate thaT IT did NoT supporT thE proposEd aMenDmeNt:

IN tHe view of tHe majoriTy Of ThE cOmmIttee, IT would crEaTe aN uNdeSirabLE inroaD on thE priNcIpLE thAt the flOOr OF The SEnAtE is rEseRvEd for SenaTOrs And offiCers in immEdiATe atTeNdAnce on tHe Senate, and woUlD create uncErTaiNty as tO THe scope oF the proposed exemption.77

FoR Almost tHreE decaDes, tHere have bEen A numbeR of SUrveys, ReviewS, commItTee REPorts AND cRosS-pArty calls fOR The ImpleMeNtatIon of faMily-friendly faciliTIes, Not just for memBerS of pARLiAmeNT, bUT alSo FOr pARLiamentary staff And other woRkERs At ParliameNT HoUsE. Most of The atteNtion HAs focusEd on estabLishing a cHiLdcaRE FacIlity withiN the parlIament for THe use OF aLl buiLdiNg occuPaNts. in the Mid-1980s a sUB-coMmittEe of thE JOint StAndinG COmmittee On the New Parliament House ConsidEred tHe iNcorporatIon OF a cHildcare fAcilIty within tHe nEw pArliaMenT But diD not PUrSue THe matTer.78 IN 1989 A majority OF tHe NEW paRliament HouSE cOmmIttee SupPOrted a PropOsal for a community-BAsed childcare cEntrE ADjaCenT To thE oLd parliament hoUse.79 foLLOwing negOtIations betwEen the goVeRNmentS of the commonWealth aND ThE austraLian
, Senator Stephen Parry hi ghlightedthe s pec ial  c hara cter  of the chambe r  and  raised practical ques tions  c o ncer n in g the  counti n go f  vo te s: 

…  w h at  if i t w ere a c ourt of la w?Do  you bring c h il dren intoa c ourt chamber , w hich i slik e ned t o t he Se nate c h amber?  What ifev e ry sen a tor bro u g ht  a c hild of that agei na t the same tim e? I a mn ot p osi nganswers; I  a m jus t  posing qu e s t ion s . Some of the se mattersd o n eed to  b e c o nsider ed. F ro m  apractical p ersp ective, f or a w h ip, cou n ting do es bec ome  mo re d i ff ic ult  w i thm or e n u mbe rs in th ech amber —som e t i m es s ena tors  canbe obscured o r d iver s ion s are  crea ted. 74 

Sen ator B arnab yJoyce, in the s amedebate, r efe rr edto  thes anctit y o f t he Sena te cham b er: 
… t he re is a special pl ac e in  this pa rliame n tan d  it is t he  ba r of t he Se nate .  G o past t hat ba r  a nd  you ar ein the  v oti ngsecti o n of  thischamber— of co u rse the attend a nts can go th e re t oo .  The reare 76 peop le i n  our  nat i on  wh o  areelect ed to that bar and that i san inc redib le privilege.  Everythin g a bout goi ng b e yo n d that bar ofthe S enate must be respe cted. 75

TheSenate re f e rred tothe  Pr oce dur e Co mmittee for r e v iew,  a  propos althat th e p roh ibi tio nof visito rs on th efl oo rofthe c h amber no tapp ly  ‘a t the discre tionof t he  P r esi dent [t o ]a sena to rcari ngfo r aninfa n t b riefly,  provided  th a t th ebu sinessof the Senate  i s not inte rr upt ed’.76 O n 20 Aug ust 2009, that Committe e  report edto th e Se nate that  it  did n ots upport  the p ropos ed  am e n dment : 
I n t he  view of t h e  ma jorit yof t he comm ittee, it would cr e ate  an undesirab leinro a d  o n t h ep rin ci p let h at the floor of  the Senat ei sreserved f o r s en ators a nd offi cersi n immed iate atte ndance on  t he S e n ate , and woul d create  uncertai n ty as to  thesco pe ofth e p ropos ed exe m pti on.77 

Foral most t hreede cades, t here have been a number  of su rveys , r eviews, c omm i tte e reports  and  cross-par tycal ls fo r t h e imp leme n ta tio n  of f amil y -friendly fa cil i t ie s, not just f o r m ember s o f  parli amen t, but also for p a rliamentary st affa n d o the r  wor ke rs at Parliame ntHo u s e. Mostof  the attent ion hasfo c usedon est ablish ing a c h i ld c are fa cili tywithin th e p ar l iamentfo rt he use  ofal l buil ding o c cupa n t s. In the mid-19 80s a s ub-co m mit tee o fthe Joi n t St anding Com mittee on t he New  Par liame nt Hous econsid ere dthe incorp o ration of  a ch ildcare  f acil ity  withi n th e new p arli am ent  but didn o tp ur su e  th e ma tter. 78  In1989 a ma j ority of  th e  New Pa rl iam e n t Hous e  C o m mittee sup por ted a p roposal fo r  a c o mm u nity- basedchildc are cen t read jacenttot h e old par liament h o use .7 9 Fo llowingne goti at ion sbetween the gov ernments  of theC o mmonwe alt h  and the Au st ralian
, Senator_Stephen Parry_highlighted the special character_of the_chamber_and raised_practical_questions concerning the_counting of votes:

…_what if it were_a court of_law?_Do you bring children into a court chamber, which is likened to the Senate_chamber?_What if_every_senator_brought a child of that_age in at the same_time? I_am not posing answers; I am just posing_questions._Some of these_matters do need to be considered. From a practical_perspective, for a whip, counting does_become more difficult_with_more_numbers in the chamber—sometimes_senators can be obscured or diversions_are created.74

Senator Barnaby Joyce, in the_same debate, referred to the sanctity of_the Senate chamber:

… there is a_special place in this parliament_and it_is the bar of the_Senate. Go past_that bar_and you are_in the voting section of this_chamber—of course the_attendants can go there too. There_are_76 people in_our_nation_who are_elected to that_bar_and that_is_an incredible privilege. Everything about going_beyond_that bar of the Senate must be_respected.75

The Senate referred to_the_Procedure Committee for review,_a proposal that the prohibition_of visitors on the floor of_the chamber_not apply_‘at the discretion of the President [to] a senator caring for_an infant briefly, provided that the_business of the Senate_is not_interrupted’.76_On 20 August_2009,_that Committee_reported to the Senate that it did_not support_the proposed amendment:

In the view of_the majority of the_committee,_it would create an undesirable inroad_on the principle that the floor_of the Senate is reserved_for_senators_and officers in immediate attendance_on the Senate, and would create_uncertainty as to_the scope of the proposed exemption.77

For almost_three_decades, there have been a number_of_surveys, reviews, committee reports and cross-party_calls_for_the implementation of family-friendly facilities,_not just for members of parliament,_but also for parliamentary staff and other workers at_Parliament House. Most_of the attention has focused_on_establishing_a childcare facility within the parliament for the use of_all building_occupants. In the_mid-1980s a sub-committee of the Joint Standing Committee on the_New Parliament House considered the incorporation of_a childcare facility within the new parliament but did not pursue_the matter.78 In 1989 a majority of the_New Parliament House Committee supported a proposal_for a community-based childcare_centre_adjacent to the old parliament house.79 Following_negotiations_between_the_governments of the_Commonwealth and the_Australian