Updated: 22:56, Friday June 22, 2012

South Australia’s lower house MPs will take over parliament’s upper house while asbestos is removed from the House of Assembly.

Asbestos fibres have been found in the ceiling of the chamber with environmental auditors ordering a complete clean-up.

‘While the results of testing at this stage indicate a very minimal amount of asbestos, naturally we are taking every action to resolve the situation,’ parliamentary Speaker Lyn Breuer said in a statement.

‘Permission has been granted by the president of the Legislative Council to use their chamber for five days before the winter recess and this will allow parliament to conduct its business.

‘This is an unusual circumstance and has caused considerable disruption to the workings of parliament.’

Under the new arrangements parliament’s 47 lower house MPs will use the smaller Legislative Council on June 26 and 27 and then again from July 10-12.

Parliament’s 22 legislative councillors will return to their own chamber from July 17-19, as previously scheduled.

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