Local member heads online

FEDERAL member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, has logged into Parliament remotely over the last two weeks for her first sitting since going on maternity leave earlier this year.

She said while COVID-19 restrictions made it too difficult to travel to Canberra, she was excited to work from within the region.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever had remote Parliament from the Bendigo electorate,” she said.

“I’m not the only one… over half the Parliament is participating this way because of the border restrictions and lockdowns that we have going on around the entire country.

“What’s important is we’re still able to argue on behalf of our electorate… and we do it from our electorate.”

She said the online working arrangement pointed towards Parliament “becoming more family friendly and flexible” and logged in with the help of four-month-old son Charlie last week.

Other people in the House of Representatives favoured the virtual practice for a different reason, according to the MP.

“The speaker loves it because he’s able to mute us at any time,” Ms Chesters said. “Question time isn’t as rowdy as what it usually is.”

She said it was “critical” virtual Parliament was an option for MPs, and the practice could become more common in the future.

“I believe it should be on the table as an option for parliamentarians who, for caring reasons, may not be able to travel,” she said.

“This is one that will be debated beyond the pandemic about whether it should continue as an option.

“There’s still a few things that we need to sort out. You’re not able to fully participate when you’re being involved in remote Parliament but once we get those little kinks ironed out, I’m sure that we’ll be ready for the broader debate about having it as an ongoing feature.”