Joint Media Release: ARROGANT LABOR GAGS REGIONAL DEBATE IN HOUSE OF REPS

The Hon Alex Hawke MP
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation
Manager of Opposition Business in the House

The Hon Kevin Hogan MP
Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism
Deputy Manager of Opposition Business
Deputy Leader of the National Party

ARROGANT LABOR GAGS REGIONAL DEBATE IN HOUSE OF REPS

The Albanese Labor Government has arrogantly used its super majority in the House of Representatives to shut down debate on the Matter of Public Importance (MPI).

Deputy Manager of Opposition Business Kevin Hogan today proposed that the MPI would be, “This Government’s betrayal of regional Australia is hurting family budgets and businesses.”

Leader of the House moved immediately to gag debate through a little-used procedure.

Manager of Opposition Business in the House, Alex Hawke, said Labor hated scrutiny.

“The Albanese Labor Government is allergic to transparency, which is why they’ve shut down the Matter of Public Importance,” Mr Hawke said.

“Only today we saw Leader of the House refer Labor’s dodgy FOI Bill to the House’s secondary debating chamber, which is the equivalent of legislative clearing house.”

Deputy Manager of Opposition Business Kevin Hogan slammed Labor for running scared.

“Gagging the MPI on the regions won’t cut a single bill, fix a single road or save a single job. Today Labor turned its numbers in the House into a protection racket for its failures in regional Australia.” Mr Hogan said.

“This government’s regional policy is simple, less funding, less scrutiny, less voice. They’re not just ignoring the regions, they’re actively silencing them.”

ENDS

BACKGROUND

  • This is the first time in the 48th Parliament that Labor have used their numbers to gag debate on the MPI.
  • In the 47th Parliament, Labor gagged debate on the MPI on three occasions.
  • Also in the House today, Leader of the House Tony Burke shunted Labor’s dodgy FOI Bill to the Federation Chamber through a unilateral ‘programming declaration’.
  • On the Notice Paper, Tony Burke has placed a long-standing proposal to gut the MPI, handing MPIs to Government Members and stripping the Opposition MPI allocation from five to two over a sitting fortnight.

Selected quotes from Burke

“The consultative approach that we have applied to the Parliament itself and to the way we have governed is of itself not just a difference in the way Government functions. It also delivers a difference in the quality of the outcomes.” – 1 February 2023, National Press Club keynote.

“The Australian people have made clear they want integrity in government and in the parliament itself … In the last term in particular the House of Representatives became a farce. I’m determined to fix that and I’m having conversations across the parliament to that end.” – 25 May 2022, comments to The Guardian Australia.

“Never before have we had a government so determined to shut down an Opposition … It’s actually about the millions of Australians who didn’t vote for Scott Morrison. They deserve a voice in our Parliament – but this is a government that doesn’t want to hear any voices but its own.”– 28 June 2021, The New Daily

“If there are errors here—mistakes that will then have significant consequences for governance and probity—it will be found out after the event, when something has gone wrong, because there will be no parliamentary process capable of properly bringing it to light.” – Wednesday 25 June, Hansard

Selected quotes from Albanese

“We often came to the Parliament without much to do in terms of an agenda before the Parliament. This Labor Government will not be like that and we will hit the ground running.” – 25 July 2022, Address to Federal Labor Caucus.

“We want to change the tone of politics in this country. We want to be more inclusive. We want to make sure there's less shouting and more delivery. – 25 July 2022, Address to Federal Labor Caucus.

“If successful I am determined to restore a greater sense of responsibility to the Office of Prime Minister. A deeper respect for the Australian people and for the integrity of our democracy. Real accountability – and delivery. I will lead a government that keeps its promises.” – 4 March 2022, Lowy Institute keynote.

“When we tried to do our job as an Opposition and hold ministers to account for their conduct, the default position of this reactionary government was to shut down debate and gag us … Over time the executive has assumed greater and greater political power at the expense of the parliament … If we are to restore the integrity of our democratic system, the pendulum needs to swing back the other way … Fewer and fewer decisions are being subjected to democratic debate … At their best these debates in Parliament are an exercise in transparency and accountability. And this is a practice that should continue. We also have to ensure that we restore public confidence in the Parliament and we could do that with changes to the way it operates. Start with simple things: provide the Speaker with standing orders that ensure Ministers must give sensible answers to the questions they’re asked. Examine ways in which proper debate can be facilitated in the parliament, including on matters that are raised by individual members of parliament.” – 7 December 2019, Address to the Chifley Research Centre.