[Greens-Media] Costa must reveal costs of recalling parliament

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - 27 August 2008

Costa must reveal costs of recalling parliament

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is calling on Treasurer Michael Costa to detail the additional costs of recalling the NSW Parliament to debate electricity privatisation, saying the exercise underlines the government's abusive relationship with the institution of parliament. 

The Greens will place questions on notice asking for the costs of recalling parliament before it was due to resume on September 23, including the travel and accommodation costs of MPs and their staff returning to Macquarie Street and extra staffing of the house.

"Treasurer Costa is dipping into the public purse to pay for the recall of parliament to suit his own privatisation agenda and he should present the bill for public scrutiny," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The government's opportunism in recalling parliament makes a mockery of the traditional role of parliament as a vehicle for enhancing accountability.

"Premier Iemma is recalling parliament to suit his agenda, in contrast to his general tactic of whittling away sitting days to avoid negative scrutiny.

"In 2008 the NSW Legislative Council is scheduled to sit a miniscule 48 days. The Legislative Assembly sits for 62 days but only 48 of these include question time. 

"As the government has run out of ideas and energy, the amount of legislation and other parliamentary activity in NSW Parliament has dried up.

"The Greens and the Opposition have consistently called for the government to increase the number of sitting days to enhance the democratic process.

"NSW Parliament has one of the lowest number of sitting days of any Australian parliament.

"The cost of recalling parliament is just one more cost involved with the ill-advised proposal to privatise the state's electricity supply" Ms Rhiannon said.


For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au