Federal Parliament could be able to sit virtually by the time it returns in August | rharris334
that advanced planning had taken place as to how a virtual Parliament would work, including legal advice as to whether MPs could vote virtually if they were not physically in the chamber.The House of Commons, known as the Mother of Parliaments, was temporarily fitted with screens and able to sit 50 members in-person and have 120 members online during sitting days. The European Parliament also enabled its members to participate remotely in parliamentary activities.
In March, both the House of Representatives and the Senate voted in favour being able to meet in "a manner and form not otherwise provided in the standing orders" with the agreement of the government and opposition. Leader of the House Christian Porter said at the time it was necessary to have the flexibility to respond to any upcoming challenges Parliament and the nation faced.
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke said Labor would deal with any changes to Parliament in a "very conservative fashion" with the intention of making sure that when the Australian people need the Parliament to meet it could. A government spokeswoman said there were no current plans to hold a virtual Parliament in the upcoming sitting period.
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