Independent Senators Force Question Time to 3-Hours Amid Push for More Scrutiny

Senate question time typically runs for an hour.

The senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 6, 2023. Martin Ollman/Getty Images

The Senate’s question time stretched to more than three hours this week after non-government senators banded together to force extended scrutiny of ministers.

Independent Senator David Pocock led the push, with support from the Coalition, Greens, and crossbench, to allow additional questions beyond the usual allocation.

The move overturned decades of convention that typically keeps Senate question time to around an hour.

Labor Minister Murray Watt branded the move as a “dummy spit” during the session, while several government senators accused the opposition and crossbench of playing politics.

Opposition and crossbench senators said the change strengthened ministerial accountability.

The development reflects ongoing tensions between the government and Senate crossbench over transparency and parliamentary oversight.

Claims of Retaliation

Liberal Senator Anne Ruston questioned whether the government was considering changes to committee arrangements in response to the vote.

“Does the government seriously believe it has the right to punish senators for voting to strengthen accountability in this Parliament, and will the Prime Minister immediately rule out these petty, vindictive threats?” she asked.

Acting Prime Minister in the Senate, Don Farrell, rejected the suggestion.

“Certainly, from my point of view, I’m not a vindictive sort of fellow, and I certainly don’t bear grudges,” he said.

Senator Farrell said he was not aware of any such plans and emphasised the need for “a degree of maturity and common sense” in managing parliamentary processes.

Ruston responded that under Australia’s system of responsible government, the government of the day must answer to the parliament and cannot control how the Senate operates.

“The government doesn’t get to dictate to the Senate how it conducts its business,” she said.

“Why is the government so afraid of answering questions and so determined to keep Australians in the dark about how you operate?”

Integrity Concerns Raised

The clash unfolded on the same day the Centre for Public Integrity released a report expressing concern about the pace of reforms to reduce “jobs for mates” and calling for the release of the long-delayed Briggs Review into public sector appointments.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie also sought an explanation on the two-year delay on the release of the review, noting Finance Minister Gallagher had previously committed to making the now two-year-old document public.

Farrell defended Finance Minister Katy Gallagher. “When Senator Gallagher says she will do something … sometimes things [take time] if you want to get them right,” he said.

Gallagher has previously said the report will be released once appropriate consideration has been undertaken.