REPORT TO QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT ON OVERSEAS TRAVEL TO ATTEND 53RD COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION CANADIAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE by the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP Member for Sandgate Leader of the House Assistant Minister of State Assisting the Premier and Jarrod Bleijie MP Member for Kawana Shadow Minister for Police, Fire, Emergency Services and Corrective Services July 2015

QUEENSLAND BRANCH

Submitted: 14 September 2015

The purpose of our travel was to participate in the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Canadian Regional Conference designed to provide opportunities to meet with parliamentarians from across Canada and other countries within the Commonwealth to exchange views and experiences on parliamentary practices and operational innovations.

The CPA Conference was scheduled from Monday 20 July 2015 to Friday 24 July 2015 with official departures on Saturday 25 July 2015.

The CPA Regional Conference is held annually with all Commonwealth nations invited to send representatives. The Queensland Branch was represented at this Conference by one Government and one non‐Government member. The New South Wales, South Australian, Victorian and Western Australian Branches were also represented.

This year’s Conference theme was “Safe Passage – Secure and Accessible Parliaments”.

Security of Parliamentary Precincts

Presentations to the Conference were diverse, but as suggested by the theme, a number focused on the security of parliamentary precincts and balancing these issues with public accessibility.

Our host jurisdiction, the British Columbia had recent experience in dealing with issues of security around Parliamentary precincts as their legislature was the subject of a foiled terrorist bomb plot in 2013. At that time pressure‐cooker bombs were placed in planters outside the Legislature. The plan was to cause as much damage and kill as many people as possible. Thankfully no one was injured. It was invaluable to hear how the Legislature responded to security following this incident. However we note that despite this incident, visitors are still able to freely move in and out of the public areas of Parliament House without the need to be security checked or metal scanned. Security screening is setup at the entrance of the public galleries to the Assembly.A powerful session permitted the delegates and observers to hear more recent first‐hand accounts of the terrible events of 22 October 2014 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. On that day, a gunman shot and killed a soldier on sentry duty at the Canadian National War Memorial then entered the National Parliament building where he was ultimately killed in a shootout with the House of Commons Sergeant‐At‐Arms and Royal Mounted Police Corps Officers. The lock‐down of the parliamentary precinct continued for some hours while authorities ascertained and ensured the security of members and the public.

Three members of the Canadian Federal Parliament made personal reflections on their experiences. At the time of the incident, Joyce Murray MP (Vancouver Quadra, ), Malcolm Allen MP (Welland, NDP) and Chris Charlton MP (, NDP) were all either in or en route to their party caucus meetings.

It was interesting to note that all three remarked on the importance of communications to assist everyone in such a circumstance. It struck us particularly that even after his experience, Malcom Allen expressed his personal view that public access must continue to “trump” security.

It was noted that many of the MP’s and Senators that were at Parliament House during the incident were relying on social media for updates on the situation particularly when the Parliament building was in lock‐down.

The Speaker of the Quebec National Assembly, the Honourable Jacques Chagnon, presented to the Conference on the significant enhancements that have been undertaken and are planned for the Parliament Buildings in Montreal. With the Quebec National Assembly largely comprising of a building built in the late 19th century, some physical security measures are being progressively undertaken since a review prompted by the incident at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill.

A secure command post has been created with enhanced video surveillance, more gates and electronic locks with greater attention on access card settings to manage access to specific areas. Most significantly a new “Welcome Building” is being developed in the form of an underground reception space outside the building with an improved range of other services for visitors to the precinct. The heritage issues involved has meant that this project will cost CAN$134 million. Excavation for the new building will start shortly and completion of the building is expected in the 2019 northern summer.

There was consensus that Parliaments not only in Canadian provinces but around the Commonwealth should at all times attempt to have relatively similar security arrangements.

One jurisdiction noted however, that in Canada’s case if one province has superior security this may lead to other provinces with lower security being the target of specific attacks.

Accessibility of Parliaments

The Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, the Honourable Kevin S Murphy MHA, presented on the accessibility of Canadian Parliaments to people living with a disability. Speaker Murphy is the first Speaker to serve with a permanent disability and is a spinal cord injured quadriplegic as a result of an ice hockey accident when he was 14 years old.

He noted there is generally at least one MLA in each province living with a disability and that a high level of accessibility has been achieved in what are largely historic buildings. Usually, the exception to this has been the Speaker’s Dais within parliamentary chambers.

In order to achieve inclusiveness Speaker Murphy explained how they ran a program titled “A day in a wheelchair’. This action encouraged members without disabilities to spend a day to ascertain how accessible is Parliament, offices, eateries and other areas to not only members in wheelchairs but also the visiting public.

It was more than just changing the physical environment, it was about respecting all members no matter what their disabilities. For example they changed their standing order “rise to speak” to one that didn’t imply one must stand to speak.

Speaker Murphy also noted the importance of ensuring constituency offices are accessible to ensure access by the whole community to their representatives.

Twinning Arrangements between CPA Branches

The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Dan D’Autremont MLA, and the President of the Western Australian Legislative Council, the Honourable Barry House MLC, presented on the ‘twinning’ arrangement that has developed between the parliaments of the Province of Saskatchewan and the State of Western Australia.

The presentation outlined the detailed arrangements which govern the exchange delegations where strong member‐to‐member and staff‐to‐staff matching is undertaken and the experiences extend to opportunities to extensively ‘shadow’ counterparts not only in their parliamentary role but also in their constituency.

Outside of this presentation, it was a clear discussion point around the Conference that more regular opportunities for parliamentarians from the Australian State and the Canadian Provinces to interact, discuss and experience the issues they are administering would be profoundly better professional development. The synergies in the political, legal, social and economic structures ensure the ability to effectively learn from each other and transfer experiences much stronger. Similar recurring issues such as resource development, remote communities, infrastructure short‐falls, urban growth, environmental management and indigenous communities underline the commonality which can inform better policy making on both side of the Pacific.

While there are broader issues facing the future of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – with the Australian Parliament’s withdrawal and the continuing trends led by an African voting bloc – it is our recommendation that the Queensland Branch take steps to support exploring ‘twinning’ arrangements for Australian State Branches with the Canadian Provincial Branches.

Attachment 1: Travel Itinerary

Attachment 2: CPA Conference Program

Attachment 1:

Travel itinerary ‐ Stirling Hinchliffe MP

At the conclusion of the CPA Conference I travelled via San Francisco on my return and had an additional 4 days there on personal leave and expense and departed San Francisco to return to Brisbane on Wednesday 29 July 2015.

Travel / Accommodation details:

Flight Airline: Virgin Australia Flight: VA0924 Departure: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 08:00 Brisbane, Australia Arrival: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 09:35 Sydney, Australia

Flight Airline: United Airlines Flight: UA0870 Departure: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 12:00 Sydney, Australia Arrival: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 08:35 San Francisco, USA

Flight Airline: United Airlines Flight: UA5509 Departure: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 11:08 San Francisco, USA Arrival: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 13:18 Victoria BC, Canada

Hotel Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Check in: Sunday 19 July 2015 Check out: Saturday 25 July 2015

Flight Airline: United Airlines Flight: UA6315 Departure: Saturday 25 July 2015 at 06:00 Victoria BC, Canada Arrival: Saturday 25 July 2015 at 08:14 San Francisco, USA

Hotel San Francisco – personal expense Check in: Saturday 25 July 2015 Check out: Wednesday 29 July 2015

Flight Airline: United Airlines Flight: UA0863 Departure: Wednesday 29 July 2015 at 22:20 San Francisco, USA Arrival: Friday 31 July 2015 at 06:25 Sydney, Australia

Flight Airline: Qantas Airways Flight: QF0510 Departure: Friday 31 July 2015 at 08:35 Sydney, Australia Arrival: Friday 31 July 2015 at 10:05 Brisbane, Australia

Travel itinerary – Jarrod Bleijie MP

At the conclusion of the CPA Conference I travelled at my personal expense from Vancouver through to Calgary for an additional 6 days and returned to Brisbane from Vancouver on Thursday, 31 July 2015.

Travel / Accommodation details:

Flight Airline: Virgin Australia Flight: VA0007 Departure: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 10:50 Brisbane, Australia Arrival: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 06:55 Los Angles, USA

Flight Airline: Air Canada Flight: AC1823 Departure: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 10:05 Los Angles, USA Arrival: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 12:49 Vancouver, Canada

Flight Airline: Air Canada Flight: AC8069 Departure: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 14:00 Vancouver, Canada Arrival: Sunday 19 July 2015 at 14:24 Victoria BC, Canada

Hotel Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Check in: Sunday 19 July 2015 Check out: Saturday 25 July 2015

Hotel (various) Canada – personal expenses Check in: Saturday 25 July 2015 Check out: Friday 31 July 2015

Flight Airline: Delta Airlines Flight: DL5742 Departure: Friday 31 July 2015 at 17:08 Vancouver, Canada Arrival: Friday 31 July 2015 20:25 Los Angles, USA

Flight Airline: Virgin Australia Flight: VA0008 Departure: Friday 31 July 2015 at 23:50 Los Angles, USA Arrival: Sunday 2 August 2015 at 06:50 Brisbane, Australia

Attachment 2: CPA Delegate Program

Monday, July 20th

 Arrival CPA Canadian Regional Conference Delegates Registration 3:00‐6:00 pm at the Hotel Grand Pacific, Room 950

7:00‐9:00 pm 53rd CPA Canadian Regional Conference Welcome Reception Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

9:00‐11:00 pm Networking Sessions Hotel Grand Pacific, Rooms 950 and 952

Tuesday, July 21st

7:00‐8:30 am Breakfast Buffet Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

8:45 am Delegates, Observers, partners and children gather at Confederation Garden Park, beside the Hotel Grand Pacific at the corner of Menzies Street and Belleville Street, for the Opening Ceremony Confederation Garden Park

9:00‐9:30 am Opening Ceremony and Official Welcome Elder Elmer George, Songhees First Nation Introduction of Talking Stick Unity Drummers

9:30‐9:45 am Official Photograph

Business sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday will take place at the Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom. Business sessions on Friday will be in the Legislative Chamber.

Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

10:00‐11:00 Accessibility within Canadian Parliaments am Presenter: Hon. Kevin Murphy, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia Chair: Hon. Elizabeth Hubley, Senator

11:00 am‐12 Security Considerations at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia noon Presenters: Douglas Horne, Deputy Speaker, and Gary Lenz, Sergeant‐at‐Arms Chair: Hon. Dan D'Autremont, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

12 noon‐1:30 Lunch pm Hotel Grand Pacific 1:30‐2:30 pm Parliamentarians and Social Media Presenter: Dr. Janni Aragon, Political Science Department, University of Victoria Chair: Hon. Daryl Reid, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Manitoba

2:30‐3:30 pm Editorial Cartoons Presenter: Graham Harrop, Editorial Cartoonist, Vancouver Sun Chair: Hon. Jackie Jacobson, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

6:00‐8:00 pm Royal British Columbia Museum Dinner Reception 675 Belleville Street, Modern History Gallery

8:00‐11:00 pm Networking Sessions Hotel Grand Pacific, Rooms 950 and 952

Wednesday, July 22nd

7:00‐8:30 am Breakfast Buffet Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

9:00‐10:00 am Ethics and Accountability of Members Presenters: Sandra Barnes, Clerk, Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly and the Hon. Raynell Andreychuk, Senator Chair: Hon. Wade Verge, Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly

10:00‐10:15 Break am

10:15‐11:15 Security Standards for Parliament Buildings: Principles and Application – The am Quebec Parliament Building Infrastructure Improvement Project Presenter: Hon. Jacques Chagnon, Speaker, National Assembly of Quebec Chair: Hon. Dave Levac, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of

11:15‐12:15 October 22, 2014 – Parliament Hill: Personal Reflections pm Presenters: Members of Parliament, Joyce Murray, Malcolm Allen and Chris Charlton Chair: Hon. Robert E. Wanner, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Alberta

12:15‐1:45 pm Lunch Hotel Grand Pacific

2:00 pm Regional Council Meeting Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

2:00‐6:00 pm Free time for other delegates 6:00‐9:00 pm Reception at the Robert Bateman Gallery Dinner at the Steamship Grill & Taphouse Steamship Terminal, 470 Belleville Street

9:00‐11:00 pm Networking Sessions Hotel Grand Pacific, Rooms 950 and 952

Thursday, July 23rd

7:00‐8:30 am Breakfast Buffet Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

8:45 am Delegates, Observers, partners and children gather by Hotel Grand Pacific, South Pender Island Room (Quebec Street exit) to board buses

9:00 am Travel to CFB Esquimalt

9:30 am Board the HMCS Vancouver

Activities aboard the HMCS Vancouver

 Guided tours  Demonstrations  Lunch  Maneuvers  Gift shop

2:30 pm Board buses

3:00 pm Arrive at Hotel Grand Pacific

5:00‐9:00 pm Children/youth program available for the children of Speakers and Clerks only

Free evening for other delegates, observers, partners and children.

6:30 pm Speakers' Dinner (by invitation) Fairmont Empress Hotel, 721 Government Street

6:30 pm Clerks' Dinner (by invitation) Union Club of British Columbia, 805 Gordon Street

8:00‐11:00 pm Networking Sessions Hotel Grand Pacific, Rooms 950 and 952

Friday, July 24th

7:00‐8:30 am Breakfast Buffet Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom

8:45 am Delegates make own way to Parliament Buildings main entrance

Legislative Chamber

9:00‐10:00 am Security and Access in Australian Parliaments Presenter: Hon. Michael Sutherland, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Western Australia Chair: Hon. Buck Watts, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island

10:00‐11:00 Twinning Arrangements am Presenters: Hon. Dan D'Autremont, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, and the Hon. Barry House, President, Legislative Council of Western Australia Chair: Hon. David Laxton, Speaker, Yukon Legislative Assembly

11:00‐11:30 Closing Remarks am

5:00 pm Children meet at Hotel Grand Pacific, Galiano Room, Room 233, for Children/Youth Program evening events

5:30 pm Delegates, Observers and Partners gather by Hotel Grand South Pacific Pender Island Room (Quebec Street exit) to board buses to Government House

5:45 pm Buses Depart

6:00‐9:00 pm Farewell Dinner Hosted by Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Government House, 1401 Rockland Avenue

9:00 pm Board buses to return to Hotel Grand Pacific

9:00‐11:00 pm Networking Sessions Hotel Grand Pacific, Rooms 950 and 952

Saturday, July 25th

 Departures

6:00‐9:30 am Breakfast Buffet Hotel Grand Pacific, Vancouver Island Ballroom