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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lucy Bladen

'Historic low': Extra sitting days for local issues rejected by ACT govt

ACT Opposition whip Jeremy Hanson called for extra sitting days next year to debate local issues. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The ACT government has rejected a call for more sitting days to focus solely on local issues, after the opposition called for an extra 12 days.

Opposition whip Jeremy Hanson put forward the motion after the sitting calendar for 2022 had scheduled 35 days across 12 sitting weeks.

The Legislative Assembly sat for 14 weeks a year a decade ago, and had sat for 15 weeks in 2009.

"We're only going to be here for 25 days, it's a historic low," Mr Hanson said.

Mr Hanson argued an extra day should be added to each sitting week next year. ACT sitting weeks are generally from Tuesday to Thursday and Mr Hanson's motion called for Fridays to be added as well.

Mr Hanson said the Fridays should be used to deal with local issues.

"Here in the ACT, we've got not just state responsibilities but local government responsibilities as well," he said.

"I think we should be spending more and more to address those really important issues that matter out in the suburbs - mowing, maintenance of our roads, local planning and 35 days in a year to sit in an Assembly is outrageous."

Mr Hanson has previously slammed the reduction, calling the Labor and Greens a "lazy leftie government". He said people in Canberra were crying out for the extra days.

"I think it's just a matter of making sure that our focus in the Assembly isn't just on the big-picture issues but really gets down to the maintenance of our local suburbs," he said.

"I think that's what people in Canberra are crying out for and I think dedicated a day a week - that's only 12 days a year to focus on those issues - is really important."

MORE A.C.T. POLITICS NEWS:

Manager of government business Mick Gentleman said the 2022 sitting calendar allowed for two sets of annual report hearings, estimates hearings and committee work. He said the motion was a stunt.

"This motion is nothing but a schoolboy antic from Mr Hanson, like a naughty child heading on holidays he's trying to muck up. This motion is a stunt," Mr Gentleman said.

The ACT Legislative Assembly has sat this week and will sit next week. The two weeks have been dominated by debates on appropriation bills to pass the ACT's 2021-22 budget.

The delayed budget was handed down last month, it was released late due to the ACT lockdown. Mr Hanson said the process to pass the budget had been rushed and had not given enough time for committees to properly scrutinise the budget.

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