Seems the LNP MPs forgot what their job was....

There have been extraordinary scenes at the Queensland Parliament, with the Opposition absent from the chamber, allowing the Government to pass three pieces of legislation without debate.

For around 20 minutes no LNP member was in the House, before one or two MPs arrived belatedly.

During that time the Government passed three bills, including Commonwealth Games arrangements for the Gold Coast and extra public holidays for next year.

The Opposition claims the Government changed the parliamentary schedule, but Premier Anna Bligh says it was a disgraceful episode.

"I move that this Parliament censures the Queensland Opposition for their failure to meet their duties in this Parliament this morning," she said.

"They were absent without leave.

"They could not get anybody in here to debate legislation that would set up the Commonwealth Games for Gold Coast."

It was only the second time since 1989 the Opposition had been caught absent from the Parliament, Ms Bligh said.

The other was for debate on gun law reforms after the Port Arthur massacre, the Premier said.


"There is nothing that they can offer by way of an excuse for this appalling performance," Ms Bligh said.

"This is exactly what you get when you outsource the leadership.

"This is what happens when you take a leader who has no leader in the state parliament of Queensland.

"The Queensland Liberal and National Party are recognised nationally as the best resourced opposition in the country and we all know they are the laziest."

'Immaterial'

But LNP leader Campbell Newman brushed off the blunder.

Mr Newman, announcing an education policy in Brisbane, said the Premier was focusing on procedure.

He shrugged off the absence of Opposition voices on the legislation.

"The fact that people weren't in the chamber disturbs me of course, but the bottom line is that these bills were going to go through and we supported them," he told reporters.

"We were going to support these bills, so the fact they have gone through this way is ultimately immaterial."

'Silly trick'

Parliamentary Opposition leader Jeff Seeney said Ms Bligh's censure motion was a "silly little trick", claiming the LNP had been deceived.

"The Government whip advised the Opposition there were three pieces of legislation to be introduced... which would have kept the business of this chamber occupied for the best part of an hour," he said.

"What we've seen the Government do is to indulge in this deliberate dishonesty, this deliberate trickery, to try and score some stupid political points here in the Parliament."

Mr Seeney said it was a desperate attempt for a small victory ahead of the next election.

"That says a whole lot about this Labor government," he said.

This week is likely the final sitting week before the next state election, expected early next year.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-29/qld-opposition-absent-from-parliament/3701994

Doesnt matter the 'people' luv them. They would rather back the party that thought they should go without a levyto help them to, pay their MPs to do nothing.

Go figure. Who said the people know best.

wrote on Nov 29^th, 2011 at 10:27pm:

Doesnt matter the 'people' luv them. They would rather back the party that thought they should go without a levyto help them to, pay their MPs to do nothing. Go figure. Who said the people know best.

what worries me about you veg is... that makes sense to you!