In a rare show of unity, Victorian politicians from all persuasions are calling for a Spring Street ban to be overturned.
At the centre of the furore is a 14-year-old Maltese Terrier named Sprite who has been told he is no longer welcome to stroll the corridors of Victoria’s Parliament House.
The rescue dog has been coming to work with his human, who is a parliamentary staffer.
The canine has become something of a mascot.
But the Department of Parliamentary Services has since deemed it inappropriate for him to be in the workplace.
Both sides of parliament have spoken out about the decision.
“I have two dogs of my own, I love them dearly and they wouldn’t want me to come home and know that I’ve been seeing other dogs,” Premier Jacinta Allen said.
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“Sprite’s mum has been absolutely dignified in this, she hasn’t complained to us, it’s just many MPs have noticed he has been banned from here,” Animal Justice Party’s Georgie Purcell said.
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“I hope all of you will get behind team Sprite and join with me as we campaign to bring Sprite back to Spring Street,” Labor MP Sonja Terpstra said.
“I think we should free Sprite,” treasurer Tim Pallas said.
Sprite is not the first canine to be well-known in Spring Street.
Two dogs named Patch and Ted were ferried around in a government car in 2017 and their owner MP Steve Herbert retired not long after.
