Opposition wants gov't to call Parliament back into session

The Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell says the Opposition is not in agreement with the long recess from the sittings of House caused by a decision of government side, following the Christmas break.

In a statement this afternoon, Paulwell said after only one sitting to deal with the second Supplementary Estimates, the House has not met again, leaving important questions unanswered and bills languishing.

According to him,  the excuse provided that the cabinet was in a retreat.

Paulwell said this is unacceptable arguing that the budget retreat was an annual exercise which has never caused major disruptions in Parliamentary sittings.

He said the government should immediately call the House back into session in order to complete urgent matters on the Parliamentary agenda before the House is prorogued for the start of the new session in February.

He said the Opposition has had cause to make several complaints about the way in which the government has been managing the affairs of the Parliament.

This, he said, include the late tabling of bills, debates at short notice, late posting and frequent changes in the agenda and the persistent breaching of the Standing Order in relation to the answering of questions.

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