Parliamentary Reports Left Unanswered as Government Response Times Lag
A recent parliamentary report has uncovered a significant backlog in government responses to committee inquiries, with dozens of reports left gathering dust without official replies. This issue highlights broader concerns about transparency and accountability in parliamentary processes.
Teal Independents Push for Action on Thorny Topics
As politicians return to Canberra, community independent MPs are pressing the government to address a range of contentious issues. Monique Ryan has introduced a private member's bill to treat gambling harm as a public health issue through a Centre for Disease Control. Sophie Scamps is advocating for a bill to end "jobs for mates" by implementing a cooling-off period between political roles and government appointments. Meanwhile, Kate Chaney plans to spotlight the numerous parliamentary committee reports that remain unanswered, with the government overdue in responding to critical findings and recommendations.
Delays in Key Reports and Government Responses
It has been 978 days since a committee, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, called for a phased ban on gambling advertising. Despite a draft response being formulated in 2024, the Labor government has yet to formally respond, citing ongoing consideration. On the issue of jobs for mates, the government initially resisted releasing a report late last year, only doing so after a Senate revolt led by David Pocock. The report's author, Lynelle Briggs, criticized "patronage and nepotism," but Labor's response was deemed insufficient by integrity experts like Anthony Whealy KC.
Backlog of Unanswered Reports Across Parliament
The parliamentary report on parliamentary reports found that dozens of inquiries conducted by committees have received no government response, despite procedures requiring replies within six months. Since the Albanese government was elected in 2022, approximately 50 reports from House committees are still awaiting responses, with half being over a year old. In the Senate, where the government does not control the numbers, more than 150 inquiry reports tabled since the 2022 election have received no government response at all.
Historical Context and Political Dynamics
This backlog is not entirely new, as the former Coalition government also left many reports unanswered. In 2024, Labor engaged in a box-ticking exercise by responding to old reports with statements that a substantive response was no longer appropriate due to the passage of time. Government sources have claimed a commitment to responding to all reports, but newer reports continue to await replies. Labor sources argue that in the Senate, the Greens and Coalition often set up politically motivated inquiries to criticize government policy, complicating the response process.
Implications for Transparency and Public Trust
Kate Chaney emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the government must honor the thousands of participants in parliamentary inquiries who share their expertise and experiences in good faith. This raises questions about the use of taxpayer funds for hearings and reports that end up ignored. The pattern of delays and silences on thorny issues has drawn criticism from integrity campaigners, undermining promises of orderly processes and respect for parliament.
Freedom of Information and Ongoing Debates
Freedom of information requests revealed that a draft response to Murphy's gambling ad report existed as of November 2024, but departments declined to release it, citing potential prejudice to deliberative processes. Communications Minister Anika Wells is navigating complex policy areas, including media income, sporting codes, and online safety, while facing pressure from both sides of the debate. Additionally, the government's changes to the freedom of information system are set to return to the Senate, with the Coalition opposing the bill as an attack on transparency.
