Despatch Boxes

In the House of Representatives, 2 wooden chests – Despatch Boxes – sit on the central table. One is next to the Prime Minister's chair and the other sits next to the Leader of the Opposition's chair.

Function

The Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, ministers and shadow ministers use the Despatch Boxes to rest their speech notes and other documents while addressing the House. This is called speaking 'from the Despatch Box'.

The Despatch Box on the government side of the House contains forms and religious books used for swearing-in new members of the House.

Design

The Despatch Boxes are made of rosewood and decorated with silver and enamel. They are hinged and lockable.

History

Despatch boxes were first used in seventeenth century Britain to transport parliamentary documents to the House of Commons. The Australian Parliament's Despatch Boxes are replicas of 2 boxes which sat in the House of Commons in the British Parliament, before being destroyed by a bomb explosion in 1941 during World War II.

King George V gave the House of Representatives' Despatch Boxes to the Australian Parliament to mark the opening of Old Parliament House in 1927. Inside the lid of each box is an inscription signed by King George V. In 1988, the Despatch Boxes were brought to the current Parliament House.

Along with other parliamentary symbols, the Despatch Boxes symbolise the link between the British House of Commons and the Australian House of Representatives.