TRANSCRIPT - DOORSTOP INTERVIEW - PARLIAMENT RECALL AND 'ENERGY PACKAGE'

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

TRANSCRIPT

DOORSTOP INTERVIEW

13 DECEMBER 2022

Subject/s: Condolences to victims of QLD Police Shooting, Cost of Parliament Recall, Rushed ‘Energy Package’, Parliamentary Accountability

FLETCHER: I want to start by expressing my deep sorrow at the terrible shooting that we have seen in Queensland, in particular express sorrow and sympathy to the family and friends of two police officers who tragically lost their life in the course of doing their work, protecting our community.  

I want to make some comments about the Albanese Labor Government's decision to recall Parliament this Thursday to deal with their so-called energy package. This is going to cost more than $1,000,000. Just when it comes to the airfares, the travel allowances, the COMCARS, and the other expenses of 226 parliamentarians and their staff. And that's before you look at additional costs, such as additional casual security staff, parliamentary attendants, people working in the catering outlets at Parliament House and others. This is chaotic and unnecessary. The Albanese Labor government has had six months to come up with a practical plan to deal with the rising cost of energy. Indeed, they promised at the election that they would deliver a $275 reduction in power bills per household. They've had more than six months to deliver on it, and now in a chaotic exercise, we've had the Prime Minister just last Friday say oh, we've come up with a package and it needs to be legislated next Thursday. It's a very wasteful way to operate with over $1,000,000 of taxpayers money likely to be spent just on recalling the Parliament. But it's also a really bad process, because what the government is suggesting is that this complicated bill is going to be rammed through both Houses of Parliament in one day? We haven't yet seen the Bill. We're two days out from the Parliamentary sitting. We have not seen the Bill. The Government is saying there won't be Question Time so there won't be an opportunity to ask questions and all the normal parliamentary processes in which a complicated piece of legislation is considered. Such as a Senate committee or a Parliamentary committee are not being contemplated by the government. This is going to be a complicated and detailed piece of legislation we haven't yet seen it. What needs to happen, under good process, is that parliamentarians before they cast their vote have time to look at the legislation, decide what they think about it. And very importantly, that stakeholders, affected businesses, affected consumers, have the chance to look at the Bill and offer their opinion. None of that is being contemplated by the government. They're proposing to force this through in one day, they're treating Parliament as a rubber stamp. Now, Mr. Albanese, when he was Manager of Opposition Business, Mr Burke. Today the Leader of the House they have spoken many times about the role of Parliament in holding government to account, transparency and scrutiny, yet they are trashing those important principles and the outcome will be that policy is being made on the run, in relation to a very complicated area. This is treating the Parliament like a rubber stamp. It's treating voters with contempt. It's a terrible way to operate, Mr. Albanese and the Labor government have not explained why it needs to be dealt with this Thursday, given that what they have also said is as part of the package the bill relief will only be finalised by National Cabinet in March next year. This is a political stunt. It's a terrible way to operate. It's treating Parliament with contempt. It's treating Parliament as a rubber stamp and ultimately it is treating the voters with contempt because voters have sent their elected representatives to Canberra to do their job. In good faith to assess legislation and make a judgement on it before voting. This is a truly bad approach, it's going to waste taxpayers money. And it needs Parliament, the government is seeking to force the Parliament to act as a rubber stamp. 

Further information: Jack Abadee 0403 440 099