Tasmania’s parliament sits fewer days than any other state legislature in Australia, newly independent MP Helen Burnet told the house on its first day back from the summer break.
Burnet, who recently left the Greens to sit on the crossbench, said the House of Assembly averaged the longest end-of-year break in the country at 112 days over the past decade.
“That’s 30% of one year,” she said on Tuesday.
The parliament sat for 37 days in 2025 and 33 the year before.
“A parliament cannot scrutinise a government when it is not sitting,” Burnet said.
She called on Premier Jeremy Rockliff to increase sitting days, arguing MPs should lead by example while Treasurer Eric Abetz demands productivity gains from public servants.
“Premier, we know your government doesn’t like scrutiny, but at a time when your treasurer is demanding increased productivity and efficiency from public servants, shouldn’t this parliament be leading by example by sitting more days of the year and having shorter end-of-year breaks?” she asked.
Rockliff said he welcomed scrutiny and pointed to accountability reforms introduced over the past 11 years.
These included RTI reform, integrity commission changes and the removal of so-called “Dorothy Dixers” – scripted questions from government backbenchers – since 2024.
“We are a government that has increased accountability, despite what many people say,” Rockliff said.
He said removing Dorothy Dixers had created more time for opposition and crossbench MPs to ask questions.
The premier said he would verify Burnet’s figures himself.
“I will do my own research and just see exactly if those numbers are right,” he said.
