Kim Booth: Liberals hide from Question Time scrutiny

The Hodgman government’s expected day in the ceremonial sun of the resumption of Parliament was over-shadowed by claims they are trying to hide from scrutiny with their proposed changes to the Assembly’s Sessional Orders.

“Under the Westminster Parliamentary system Question Time is the key accountability mechanism by which Opposition parties scrutinise the government of the day on behalf of the voter. Yet the Liberal changes to Question Time seek to restrict the Tasmanian Greens MP to only two questions per day, while they allocate their own backbenchers double that number with four questions,” Greens Leader Kim Booth MP said.

“This Hodgman Liberal government is clearly scared of scrutiny in the House, and are instead going to hide behind numerous Dorothy Dix questions from their own members.”
“Limiting the Greens to two questions, whilst giving their own backbenchers four, is an affront to democracy and holds the electorate in contempt.”

“The Liberals are also seeking to remove the Greens’ weekly Matter of Public Importance debate, and instead only provide it on a fortnightly basis.”

“Under the current sitting schedule that means the Liberals are seeking to deny the more than 47, 000 Tasmanians statewide who voted Green, at least 13 opportunities to have us raise significant public interest matters on their behalf to only six for this entire Parliamentary year.”

“Parliament should be about proper scrutiny, not some carefully manipulated sideshow.”

“Will Hodgman has failed the first test of his Premiership, choosing to behave more like a dictator than a statesman who has the confidence in his government’s policy that he doesn’t shirk subjecting it to tough and rigorous scrutiny.”

“This begs the question, just what are the Liberals so scared of?”

“The Greens will do everything in our power to fight this blatant attempt to shut down the voices of those Tasmanians we represent.”

“The use of an outdated Industrial Commission ruling relating to a leader’s allowance, made in the context of a larger 35 seat Assembly, to deny the Greens’ party recognition in parliament is immature, childish and risks damaging our state’s proud democratic reputation,” Mr Booth said.

Mr Booth also pointed to previous precedents which saw sole Greens MP Peg Putt be provided a weekly MPI under the Bacon majority government, and the previous government which saw Labor backbenchers provided three questions per day, and the Greens also three questions per day.
Kim Booth MP | Greens Leader