Part time Parliament: House Standing Committees sitting dormant
The Hon Alex Hawke
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation
Manager of Opposition Business in the House
PART TIME PARLIAMENT: HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEES SITTING DORMANT
Seven out of ten House of Representatives Standing Committees are have not started any inquiries, while taxpayers foot the bill for MP salary bumps and issues of national importance go unheard.
The following standing committees have not commenced inquiries since the return of Parliament in July:
- Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water
- Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport
- Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training
- Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science
- Standing Committee on Primary Industries
- Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport
- Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs
Chairs of Standing Committees receive a flat pay increase of 11 per cent, or $26,320.00. The Chairs of each inactive standing committee are Labor Members.
Manager of Opposition Business in the House, Alex Hawke, said Labor was showing contempt for the Parliament.
“The Parliamentary committee system is Australia’s premier forum for testing out policy ideas and getting feedback from experts and everyday Australians - it plays a vital role in our democracy,” Mr Hawke said.
“In my almost twenty years as an MP, I have never seen such mismanagement of the inquiry process.
“Whether it’s their dangerous new FOI laws or shutting down Question Time, the Albanese Labor Government is addicted to secrecy and allergic to transparency.”
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