Tasmania’s budget estimates hearings are coming with an unexpected request this year – leave the strong perfume and aftershave at home.
Ruth Forrest, the chair of the Legislative Council Estimates Committee, has asked ministers and departmental staff to avoid wearing overpowering fragrances to the hearings in the Legislative Council Chamber.
An internal email sent to parliamentarians on Wednesday morning said Forrest “has experienced allergic reactions to strong perfumes and aftershaves in the past”.
“[She] has respectfully requested that Ministers and Departmental staff kindly refrain from wearing strong fragrances to the Budget estimates hearings,” the email read.
Speaking to Pulse, Forrest said the request wasn’t about banning all fragrances, but about being considerate of others in a confined space.
“We’re not saying don’t wear any sort of perfume or deodorant or anything like that,” she said.
“We’re just asking people to think about the comfort of others and not to wear really strong-scented perfumes or aftershave.”
Forrest said strong fragrances can cause severe headaches and shortness of breath for her and others, and that the problem is made worse during estimates because those involved can’t simply leave the room.
“When members … and staff are required to be in the chamber or in the committee room for hours and hours … well, it makes it really awkward,” she said.
“I don’t think we should be live on analgesics to do our job.”
Forrest said she wouldn’t have an anaphylactic reaction but her symptoms are still significant.
“I just get quite severe headaches and some shortness of breath,” she said.
She said the request was aimed particularly at people coming into Parliament from outside who might not be aware of the issue.
“I think most people in the Parliament are aware of this, being in confined spaces for periods of time,” she said.
“I think it’s those who are coming in from outside who perhaps may not be aware of that and are only there for shorter periods that may not have contemplated the challenge.”
