MEDIA RELEASE - ALBANESE SHUTS DOWN QUESTION TIME EARLY…AGAIN

PAUL FLETCHER MP 

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy 

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts 

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 9 October 2024

The Albanese Labor Government has continued its pattern of poor transparency and scrutiny, by shutting down question time today unusually early after less than an hour, with the Opposition asking only six questions.

Data obtained by the Opposition from the Parliamentary Library reveals that during the 47th parliament (as at 12 September 2024) Labor answered an average of 7.2 Opposition questions each sitting day before Mr Albanese shut down question time.

This compares to 9.8 Opposition questions on average answered by the Coalition Government during the 46th parliament.

“Question time is the most important mechanism of parliamentary scrutiny and accountability – but Labor has systematically weakened question time since taking office,” Manager of Opposition Business in the House Paul Fletcher said. 

“Australians are enduring a range of challenges, including a cost of living crisis, and deserve a government that is open and honest, instead of one that routinely dodges transparency.

“It is highly unusual for the duration of question time to last less than an hour when there is no motion to suspend standing orders moved by the Opposition.

” Mr Albanese has taken every opportunity to undermine the role and effectiveness of the House of Representatives:

 • Upon coming to government in 2022, Labor issued a sitting timetable which saw the parliament sit for only 40 days in 2022, compared to 67 days in 2021.

 • Labor scheduled only 17 sitting weeks in 2024, a very light program by historical standards. 

• The Prime Minister cancelled a sitting week in September 2022, citing the death of Queen Elizabeth II as his excuse. 

• He also cancelled a sitting week in October 2023, citing his overseas travel plans as his excuse. 

• The Albanese Government answered 43 per cent fewer questions from the Opposition during question time in 2023 in the House of Representatives than the previous Coalition Government answered.