TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
CHAIR OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19
SENATOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Federal Parliament should not be a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

Proper parliamentary scrutiny of the Morrison Government should not be a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic – particularly as it engages in the biggest spending program in Australian history.

When the Government first suspended Parliament for almost five months we said it was absurd and it wouldn’t last.

Sure enough we have returned to Canberra three times since then.

But these ad-hoc sittings are not good enough. Parliament should be returning as soon as possible to regular scheduled sittings.

With appropriate social distancing and other measures in place there is nothing preventing Parliament getting back to work at the same time as other workplaces.

That’s why Labor moved an amendment in the House today calling on the Government to present a revised sitting schedule tomorrow. The Government has indicated it will not do so.

The Government insists Parliament will sit between now and August 11. That’s good. But it’s not saying when or for how long.

The Government should present a revised sitting schedule this week, while Parliament is still in session.

TUESDAY, 12 MAY 2020