The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has taken the Federal Government to task for mismanaging the number of days Parliament sits.

Senator Williams said the Government decides before the start of each year how many sitting days will be needed and this year it set down 50 days for the Senate.

But again this week it came cap in hand begging for additional hours to get its legislation through, a move opposed by the Opposition.

“Labor is unbelievable. Last year they set the agenda and then complained when they didn’t get all their legislation through because they had not allocated enough time. And they are up to their same tricks again.

Parliamentarians have committee, electorate and constituent commitments that are scheduled outside the sitting weeks, and they cannot drop everything just because the Government can’t add up.

They are hopeless managers, but the Australian people don’t need reminding about that when they remember the disgraceful home insulation fiasco, the rorted building the education revolution and the out of control border protection issue.

If Labor is wondering why it cannot get legislation through, they should just look in the mirror”, Senator Williams said.

ENDS