MEDIA RELEASE - LABOR’S ONE-DAY PARLIAMENT RECALL IS A SHOCKER

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 2022

 

LABOR’S ONE-DAY PARLIAMENT RECALL IS A SHOCKER

 

The Albanese Labor Government’s one-day recall of the Federal Parliament on Thursday 15 December is a shockingly bad decision - that will see well over a million dollars of taxpayers’ money wasted, Manager of Opposition Business, Paul Fletcher said today.  

 

“Parliament last sat on Friday 2 December - and that was supposed to be the last sitting day for the year,” Mr Fletcher said.

 

“But thanks to Albanese’s chaotic mismanagement the Parliament is now being recalled for what Labor says is a day - but could well extend longer if the Senate makes amendments and the House of Representatives has to come back the next day to consider them.

 

“The Prime Minister has had six months to come up with a plan in response to the energy crisis.  There was no reason he could not have done so well before Parliament rose.

 

“More than a million dollars will be wasted just on airfares, travel allowance, Commonwealth cars and other expenses incurred by recalling the 226 parliamentarians - most of whom will also bring staff with them who will also incur airfares, and travel allowance. 

 

“That is before the costs of the Commonwealth car drivers, the security guards, the parliamentary attendants, staff in the catering outlets and restaurants of Parliament House and others - many of whom work on a casual or part time basis and will be called back to work for this unscheduled sitting. 

 

“But Australians might also ask why such a complex legislative change is proposed to be rushed through in a day.  Normally bills of this complexity will be considered by a Senate or a joint committee, which allows the details to be considered and for stakeholders to raise their concerns.

 

“That is what people expect in a serious democracy - but Mr Albanese wants to rush this through without allowing the normal processes of scrutiny and review.

 

“Shockingly, Mr Albanese wants Parliament to meet - but is refusing to allow the normal processes such as question time to go ahead.

 

“He is treating the Parliament like an inconvenient rubber stamp - and showing his contempt for our democratic processes.

 

“All Australians who care about our democracy should be deeply troubled by the Prime Minister’s plan for a one-day rubber stamp sitting of both Houses this week.

 

“At a cost of more than $1 million, taxpayers have the right to expect the Prime Minister and his Ministers would front up to question time on Thursday. Instead he is arrogantly refusing to do so.

 

“Full and proper consideration of the Bill will not delay for a single day the proposed $1.5 billion in support for households and small businesses.

 

“But it will deny a full examination and debate on the wider ramifications of the Government’s price cap proposal.

 

“Anthony Albanese’s insistence on ramming his Bill through the Parliament, will mean:

 

• Public consultation on the proposed gas price cap will be limited to an extraordinary three full business days;

 

• No question time will occur either in the House of Representatives or the Senate;

 

• No additional Parliamentary scrutiny by way of a Committee Inquiry where the Bill would be examined in detail, submissions invited and public hearings held, and;

 

• The very real prospect of applying Labor’s hand-crafted gag orders to cut short debate on the Bill in the House of Representatives.

 

“Before the election Anthony Albanese had Australians believe he was a paragon of accountability and transparency and that he’d create a “kindler, gentler” Parliament.

 

“In office he has done the opposite. Whether it’s cutting question time short, ramming Bills through and now taking a wrecking ball to proper Parliamentary processes, the Prime Minister’s hollow words are just another broken promise.

 

“Anthony Albanese’s rubber stamp Parliament recall is a shocking and wasteful decision,” Mr Fletcher said.

 

Further information: Jack Abadee 0403 440 099