Government shuts down Parliamentary Debate
20 Aug 2009
Media release The Rudd Government has shut down debate in Parliament this week on vital issues that affect Australians, the Manager of Opposition Business, Christopher Pyne said today.
On Wednesday the Government used their numbers to stop discussion about their proposed Youth Allowance changes that will see thousands of rural and regional students having the rug pulled out from under them.
Today the Government refused to debate wage award modernisation that has small business up in arms about their future ability to compete with bigger operators, as their staff costs jump through the roof.
This afternoon the Government guillotined debate on a Matter of Public Importance - the possibility that Australians will be lumped with higher taxes, capital gains taxes on the family home, to pay off this Government's spiralling debt and deficit.
"Before the election, the Labor Party promised to usher in a new area of transparency and accountability," Mr Pyne said.
"Now the truth is clear. The Labor Party is terrified of debate, because its Ministers are incapable of defending their failures," he said.
August 20, 2009
Media Contact:
Adam Howard
0400 414 833