Newly released cabinet documents from 1982 in Australia show why the coalition government led by Malcolm Fraser decided against allowing parliamentary proceedings to be televised.
The ABC reports cabinet members were worried about the dignity of parliamentarians.
Papers considered by the cabinet acknowledged that televising parliament would reduce the gap between the public and politicians.
But there were also concerns that some MPs would play to the camera, allowing parts to be broadcast that could lead to them being misused for satirical purposes.
The submissions stated that a large proportion of Question Time was taken up with sectional or parochial issues, which would be of little general interest. The cabinet eventually voted against the proposal.
