NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES 2012 SITTING SCHEDULE

Tuesday, 22 November 2011 15:52

Media Releases - Kevin Anderson Media Release

11 November 2011 

NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES 2012 SITTING SCHEDULE:

RECORD NUMBER OF QUESTION TIMES

Leader of the Legislative Assembly, Brad Hazzard and Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council, Duncan Gay today released the NSW Parliamentary sitting schedule for 2012.

“Honouring the NSW Government’s commitment to openness and transparency, there will be a record number of Question Times in 2012,” Mr Hazzard said.

“There will be a guaranteed total of 63 sitting days* across 21 weeks (with the potential for 22 weeks if needed) delivering on the Government’s commitment to accountability.

“The NSW Government understands the importance of open and honest debate and that can only be achieved with a demanding parliamentary schedule.

“Accountability and transparency are being achieved through:

-       Sitting a record number of days in 2012;

-       Introducing the people’s petition to get local issues debated in the Parliament;

-       Legislating to prevent the early shutdown of Parliament.

“The Liberals and Nationals are getting on with the job of rebuilding NSW and that

includes restoring faith in the NSW Parliament,” Mr Hazzard said.

Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, welcomes the increase. "This increase in sitting weeks will provide local members, such as myself, more time and more opportunities to raise and debate issues which affect our local communities."

Minister Duncan Gay says the increase in sitting weeks will provide greater opportunity for debate and reinforce the Government’s commitment to restoring the democratic process.

“In the last few years under Labor, the Legislative Council has sat for a maximum of 17 weeks,” Mr Gay said.

“Opening up the chamber to additional scrutiny confirms the Government’s commitment to making NSW the People’s Parliament,” he said.

“Under sixteen years of Labor the parliamentary process has been treated with utter contempt,” Minister Hazzard said.

Since being elected in March this year, Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson has delivered 35 speeches to the Parliament on behalf of the Tamworth Electorate.

Mr Anderson has spoken on issues including regional road safety, coal seam gas exploration, public education, health reform, adoption, the Barraba Pipeline, Tamworth Base Hospital, the Tamworth Rural Fire Service, and the Relay for Life. 

More information about Mr Anderson's Parliamentary speeches can be found on the NSW Parliament Hansard Record at http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au.

The Government’s ambitious sitting schedule will restore faith in the democratic process and ensure the NSW Parliament is treated with honour and respect.

*Sitting schedule for 2012 is attached

ENDS