NSW parliament gets $22 million taxpayer-funded revamp

NSW politicians will have to literally pull up a chair if parliament needs to sit again this holiday season, with Macquarie St chambers cleared out for a controversial multimillion-dollar refurbishment.

MPs would have to bring their own deck chairs to sit in NSW parliament should they be recalled because a $22 million taxpayer-funded revamp of areas frequented by politicians is under way.

Both the Upper and Lower House chambers were cleared out of furniture last week, as workers moved in to replace the plush carpet, restore the heritage fabric and materials and upgrade the aircon.

The cost of the refurbishment has outraged Labor, given many NSW residents are having to tighten their household budgets, with some MPs speculating if the spruce up was taking place in preparation for a potential visit by King Charles in 2024, which would coincide with the 200th birthday of the NSW parliament.

NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns described the refurbishment as unnecessary.

“I could think of a million things more urgent than this outrageous waste of money,” he said

NSW’s Upper house and lower house is being refurbished to the tune of $22m.

Chairs and furniture inside Macquarie St have been moved out and tucked away.

“How ridiculous that the NSW parliament is left to BYO deck chairs while the premier spends $22m on a project no-one wants.”

NSW and Queensland are being asked to recall parliaments before the end of the year to pass laws on coal price caps.

However, a parliament of NSW spokesperson said the works were critical given the “deterioration” of the building, with the carpet also having reached its “end of life”.

The “major refurbishment” of both houses was part of a critical maintenance works program that incorporates parliament precinct-wide works, the spokesperson said.

“This is a once in four-year opportunity to undertake the majority of work during the extended Parliamentary break.”

It is understood the works will also include an upgrade of the airconditioning units to address mould, and remediate water damage. One MP said mould had become a significant problem in the Upper House, affecting the books stored in its chamber, which had been recently removed.