Latest news with #Pocock
The Age
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Part-time parliament' sitting for fewest days in 20 years
MPs will sit in the House of Representatives for fewer days this year than any other in the last two decades, limiting time for scrutiny of the government's agenda and debates on legislation. Analysis of parliamentary sitting calendars from 2004 to the draft 2025 calendar revealed MPs in the lower house will spend 40 days this year passing laws, two weeks less than the average of 48 sitting days during previous election years. Independent ACT senator David Pocock accused the government of presiding over a 'part-time parliament' that will not sit again until late July, when the makeup of the Senate will change to reflect the recent federal election, making it more favourable for Labor. 'It's pretty light on this year, I would have thought Australians would want parliament to crack on,' Pocock said. Each year, and after every election, the government decides how many days each chamber of parliament will sit. In 2025, the total expected sitting days, including the Senate, will be 76, the second-lowest number of days in parliament for all MPs in the last 20 years. The lowest was in the previous election year, 2022, which had 75 sitting days. The current MP's base salary of $233,660 equates to about $5840 per sitting day this year. Sitting days are when parliament debates and passes legislation, and the government is scrutinised via question time, but MPs do extensive work outside sitting days, such as meeting with constituents and drafting policy. Labor's leader of the house Tony Burke, who is responsible for the party's tactics in that chamber, defended the calendar by saying the government had made structural changes to parliamentary procedure to make things more efficient.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Part-time parliament' sitting for fewest days in 20 years
MPs will sit in the House of Representatives for fewer days this year than any other in the last two decades, limiting time for scrutiny of the government's agenda and debates on legislation. Analysis of parliamentary sitting calendars from 2004 to the draft 2025 calendar revealed MPs in the lower house will spend 40 days this year passing laws, two weeks less than the average of 48 sitting days during previous election years. Independent ACT senator David Pocock accused the government of presiding over a 'part-time parliament' that will not sit again until late July, when the makeup of the Senate will change to reflect the recent federal election, making it more favourable for Labor. 'It's pretty light on this year, I would have thought Australians would want parliament to crack on,' Pocock said. Each year, and after every election, the government decides how many days each chamber of parliament will sit. In 2025, the total expected sitting days, including the Senate, will be 76, the second-lowest number of days in parliament for all MPs in the last 20 years. The lowest was in the previous election year, 2022, which had 75 sitting days. The current MP's base salary of $233,660 equates to about $5840 per sitting day this year. Sitting days are when parliament debates and passes legislation, and the government is scrutinised via question time, but MPs do extensive work outside sitting days, such as meeting with constituents and drafting policy. Labor's leader of the house Tony Burke, who is responsible for the party's tactics in that chamber, defended the calendar by saying the government had made structural changes to parliamentary procedure to make things more efficient.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
One Nation wins big, Pocock no longer kingmaker: A field guide to the new Senate
One Nation has doubled its Senate representation as the upper house prepares for a reshaped crossbench when the new term of parliament begins in July. The Australian Electoral Commission announced the final Senate results from the election on Friday, as Labor locked in 28 seats and the Greens 11, meaning the government only needs the support of the left-wing minor party to pass legislation. It will be a vastly different negotiating structure for the government, after the previous parliament required Labor to win support from the Greens and at least two independents to pass legislation. The arrival of former rugby union champion and independent ACT senator David Pocock in 2022 earned him the title of 'kingmaker' as he became a moderate vote for the government to win over. Pocock told this masthead he was prepared for the Senate to be different in his second term, but believed he could still influence the direction of government legislation. Loading 'I think we've seen a lack of courage [from the government] and a lot of frustration amongst Australians … [I will] use all the tools of the Senate, you know, inquiries, speeches, bills,' he said. 'It's definitely going to be a different challenge, but I'm really excited about it.' Housing, climate change, integrity and cost of living will be a focus for Pocock. He said that despite the government not needing his vote to pass legislation, they would want his backing because of his moderate stance on policy.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
One Nation wins big, Pocock no longer kingmaker: A field guide to the new Senate
One Nation has doubled its Senate representation as the upper house prepares for a reshaped crossbench when the new term of parliament begins in July. The Australian Electoral Commission announced the final Senate results from the election on Friday, as Labor locked in 28 seats and the Greens 11, meaning the government only needs the support of the left-wing minor party to pass legislation. It will be a vastly different negotiating structure for the government, after the previous parliament required Labor to win support from the Greens and at least two independents to pass legislation. The arrival of former rugby union champion and independent ACT senator David Pocock in 2022 earned him the title of 'kingmaker' as he became a moderate vote for the government to win over. Pocock told this masthead he was prepared for the Senate to be different in his second term, but believed he could still influence the direction of government legislation. Loading 'I think we've seen a lack of courage [from the government] and a lot of frustration amongst Australians … [I will] use all the tools of the Senate, you know, inquiries, speeches, bills,' he said. 'It's definitely going to be a different challenge, but I'm really excited about it.' Housing, climate change, integrity and cost of living will be a focus for Pocock. He said that despite the government not needing his vote to pass legislation, they would want his backing because of his moderate stance on policy.
Sky News AU
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Sick of tinkering': Australian voters need a government to ‘invest interest'
Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock says independents who listen to their communities 'gain traction' in parliament as Australians are 'sick of tinkering'. 'In this next parliament, the government will talk a lot about mandates, every independent and minor party that arrives there has their own mandate from the people that elected them,' Mr Pocock told Sky News Australia. 'I'm very committed to continue to be accessible and accountable to the people in the ACT. 'They're sick of tinkering, they want politicians to be actually willing to invest interest.'
