MEDIA RELEASE - ALBANESE GOVERNMENT PRESIDING OVER A CHAOTIC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PAUL FLETCHER MP

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

MEDIA RELEASE

13 December 2023

ALBANESE GOVERNMENT PRESIDING OVER A CHAOTIC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Albanese Labor Government prefers to play politics than get on with parliamentary business, with new data obtained by the Opposition revealing a go-slow culture towards the House of Representatives.

The below data was obtained from the House of Representatives Procedure Office.

The below data was obtained by the House of Representatives Table Office.

• The total number of Questions in Writing that were on the Notice Paper for more than 60 days: 164.
• The Minister who failed the most often to respond to Questions in Writing that were on the Notice Paper for more than 60 days: Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen.

“These figures are reflective of a distracted and lazy government, more focused on playing politics than scrutiny and accountability,” Manager of Opposition Business in the House Paul Fletcher said.

“Despite the host of challenges and crises facing the Albanese Government, it invests more time trying to shut down debate and remove business from the Chamber, than getting on with resolving issues impacting Australians.

“Chris Bowen likes to talk a big game on climate change, but when it comes to respecting parliamentary procedures, all we’re seeing is hot air and inaction.

“This follows revelations that the Albanese Government is answering 43 per cent fewer questions from the Opposition during question time in the House of Representatives than the previous Coalition Government answered.”

Media contact: William Sparling | 0416 628 276 | [email protected]