Geoff Brock was the quietest government minister in 2016, answering just 26 questions

THEY are the shrinking violets of Question Time — the frontbenchers who are left to watch and heckle while their colleagues take up the fight. So, who’s our quietest minister?

• Daniel Wills rates performances of Labor and Liberal front benches for 2016

THEY are the shrinking violets of Question Time — the frontbenchers who are left to watch and heckle while their colleagues take up the fight.

Independent Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock was the quietest government minister in 2016, answering just 26 questions and providing only five ministerial statements and second reading speeches.

Social Inclusion Minister Zoe Bettison and Trade and Investment Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith were the only other ministers to answer fewer than 50 questions in 2016, but both were doubly active in terms of ministerial statements and second reading speeches.

Having just three ministers in the Legislative Council meant Peter Malinauskas (435 answers) and Kyam Maher and Ian Hunter (both 336) had high numbers.

The Opposition’s focus on the controversial Transforming Health plan meant Health Minister Jack Snelling answered 365 questions during the year.

The Opposition has asserted that more than half of all questions directed at Mr Brock were answered by other ministers.

QUIET OPERATORS: Independent Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock and Trade and Investment Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith in Parliament.

“Senior members of the Weatherill Government often gag Mr Brock during Question Time by refusing to allow him to answer questions,” Deputy Opposition Leader Vickie Chapman said.

Media monitoring figures showed Mr Brock made just three appearances on television news last year, while Opposition local government spokesman Steven Griffiths was the Liberal frontbencher with the fewest radio appearances.

Mr Brock said many of the questions he was asked by the Opposition were “about matters that sit within the portfolio responsibilities of other ministers who are best- placed to provide Parliament with appropriate answers to questions in the House”.

Local Government Association president Lorraine Rosenberg said the sector had “enjoyed an open and respectful relationship” with Mr Brock.

“Sometimes he who speaks least speaks the loudest and we appreciate the minister’s support for our sector and commitment to working collaboratively to benefit all South Australians,” she said.

On the other side of the benches, Opposition employment spokesman Corey Wingard asked just seven questions last year — 1/60th of the 421 asked by Opposition Leader Steven Marshall.

Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman asked 178 questions, while big totals from Lower House frontbenchers Dan van Holst Pellekaan and Rachel Sanderson reflected the Opposition’s focus on child protection and electricity prices.

Flinders University Associate Professor Haydon Manning said the statistics were “only a window in to one room of political life as an MP”.

“It’s only one part of the picture of an MP’s daily, weekly working life, which is taken up with constituent concerns, stakeholder and NGO concerns, and attending to party demands and functions,” Professor Manning said.

Statistics will be factor in leaders’ reshuffle decisions

Adam Langenberg

Analysis

THERE are relatively few surprises in the list of those who are on their feet the most — and least — during Question Time.

The list of prominent speakers are dominated by Upper House MPs, where there are just three Ministers and four Opposition frontbenchers to fight over questions.

It also reflects the Opposition’s political focus and what leader Steven Marshall perceives as political sore spots for the Government — there are lots of questions about energy, health and child protection. Most of the quieter members hold lesser- profile portfolios.

By combining questions asked and answered with motions, ministerial statements and second reading speeches — where Bills are introduced to the House and debated — you start to get an idea of a minister’s activity.

A list of all ministerial media appearances gives a fuller picture of who is most active in their respective chambers and who is not.

It reinforces some beliefs held by political insiders — that some ministers are shielded from intense questioning by the Premier in Question Time, and that Liberal Steven Griffiths isn’t outspoken enough.

These statistics and media appearances will factor into the minds of Premier Jay Weatherill and Mr Marshall when they weigh up whether a reshuffle is necessary, and who should make way if one occurs.

But there is a lot it does not capture. This data can’t measure how often MPs meet with their constituents and how effectively they advocate on behalf of them, how effective their relationships are with key stakeholders, how much correspondence they reply to and how crucial they are behind the scenes.