4 September 2006

Televising Parliament

Eight bids have been short-listed in a public tender process to televise Parliament.

The Speaker and Chair of the Standing Orders Committee, Hon Margaret Wilson, said 19 companies or consortia responded to last month’s Registration of Interest (ROI) to supply and integrate the equipment and/or provide the operational, ongoing service.

The bids were assessed by a selection panel using a weighted analysis of responses to short list eight companies sent a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP). Reponses are due by mid-October.

The panel was made up of representatives from the Office of the Clerk, Parliamentary Service and management consultants Octa Associates.

Ms Wilson said the televising of all debates in the House would significantly increase the public’s access to what was going on in the debating chamber. Viewers would see entire debates, not just the clips that the television channels considered to be the most important or entertaining.

‘Televising Parliament is valuable to democracy, as it gives the public the ability to see how legislation is made and how the government of the day conducts itself,’ she said.

A continuous live television feed from the debating chamber, later extending to two select committee rooms, would be made freely available to all broadcasters. The live debate would also be streamed to the parliamentary website.

Funding approval and options will go to a Cabinet committee for final approval later in the year.

ENDS

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