Call it office politics. The Palmer United Party senators are pushing to have their offices relocated to form a PUP enclave in Parliament House.
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Other senators are referring to the proposed area, which would probably centre on the ground floor office of PUP senator Dio Wang, as ''the puppy pound''. ''That, or just the kennel,'' another senator said.
The PUP is also ruffling feathers on the other side of Parliament, drawing complaints about the number of cars - said to be up to a dozen at times - associated with leader Clive Palmer that are parked in the House of Representatives car park.
It is understood the Usher of the Black Rod is considering the office relocation request. One Labor senator has been sounded out about a move, which would mark a departure from the current bipartisan composition of the offices and corridors of the Senate and House of Representatives.
As new senators, the PUP representatives have been given temporary offices on different floors and in different wings. Jacqui Lambie's office is on the first floor among a group that includes the Greens' Larissa Waters, Labor's Lisa Singh and Deb O'Neill and Liberal Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
Glenn Lazarus is accommodated on the same floor but in a different corridor neighbouring the sidelined Assistant Treasurer, Arthur Sinodinos, Family First's Bob Day and Liberal Cory Bernardi.
Senator Wang has an empty office beside his after the promotion of David Fawcett to Deputy Whip.
The Wang office is close to that of PUP ally Ricky Muir.
''Muir has proved to be fairly autonomous so far and they might want to keep him a bit closer,'' said a senator.
A PUP spokesman said their senators did want to relocate but was unsure if any decision had been made. The Black Rod's office did not comment.
Meanwhile, there is rising angst about how many cars Mr Palmer is storing in the parliamentary car park.
At the final sitting of Parliament on Friday, a Bentley and a $470,000 gull-wing Mercedes-Benz roadster owned by Mr Palmer were still visible in the car park, and his Rolls-Royce is also said to be in Canberra.
But parliamentary sources said the Fairfax MP at times uses a dozen car spaces in the House of Representatives car park. ''Mr Palmer takes up 12 spots there,'' one contact said.
''There are a few other offices that are not too happy about that, particularly seeing parking is at a premium here.''
News Review - Letters, Page 40
