MEDIA RELEASE - LABOR DODGES SCRUTINY BY SLASHING PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

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

16 November 2023

LABOR DODGES SCRUTINY BY SLASHING PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

The Albanese Labor Government is taking unprecedented action to avoid scrutiny, with figures revealing that Labor is responding to far fewer questions from the Opposition in the House of Representatives than the previous Coalition Government did during comparable periods.

During this sitting week and the October sitting week, Labor answered on average 5.75 questions from the Opposition per question time.

By contrast, during October 2021, the Coalition answered on average 10.5 questions from the Opposition per question time.

Manager of Opposition Business in the House Paul Fletcher said this almost 50 per cent decline points to a government obsessed with avoiding transparency and scrutiny.

“Australian voters were promised a Labor Government that would be more transparent and what they have instead received is one keen on hiding and dodging scrutiny,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Australians face a range of challenges, such as the cost of living, community safety and major infrastructure cuts. They deserve a government that is willing to answer the tough questions and explain its actions.”

This is part of a continuing pattern of Labor doing everything possible to minimise parliamentary scrutiny in the House of Representatives:

• Upon coming to government last year, Labor issued a sitting timetable which saw the parliament sit for only 40 days in 2022, compared to 67 days in 2021.
• Labor cancelled a sitting week in October 2023 so the Prime Minister could travel overseas.
• Labor has scheduled only 17 sitting weeks in 2024, a very light program by historical standards.

ENDS

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