Media Release -Bill Shorten’s Glass Jaw on Full Display

MEDIA RELEASE

31 May 2023

BILL SHORTEN’S GLASS JAW ON FULL DISPLAY

The Opposition is calling on Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten to demonstrate greater respect towards the Australian people.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said Mr Shorten’s short time as Minister reveals his complete lack of respect for Parliamentary accountability.

“Mr Shorten has consistently refused to answer questions on time, and where he does give answers, they are simply glib,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Mr Shorten was so indignant about his poor performance being scrutinised that today he stood up in Parliament to complain I was wasting his time by asking too many questions.

“Mr Shorten is responsible for one of the country’s largest government agencies, Services Australia, that each year administers hundreds of billions of dollars of vital social security payments, including to some of our most vulnerable Australians.

“It is remarkable that during this cost-of-living crisis, Mr Shorten is more focused on playing political games and shutting down legitimate questions.

“Talk about a glass jaw – he is happy to criticise others in extravagant terms but complains when asked perfectly legitimate questions.”

Over the past 12 months Mr Shorten has:

• Failed to respond by the required deadline to over 340 Questions on Notice lodged during the February (2023) round of Senate Estimates.
• Failed to respond by the required deadline to over 160 Questions on Notice lodged during the November-December (2022) round of Senate Estimates.
• Left formal Questions in Writing lodged in the House of Representatives unanswered for more than 60 days, leading to Speaker Milton Dick writing to the Minister seeking “reasons for the delay in answers”.