‘Part of the job’: Labor criticises MP who skipped estimates

Both major parties have had their say on the only remaining Jacqui Lambie MP largely skipping budget estimates hearings. Here’s what they had to say.

JLN MP Andrew Jenner has been missing during budget estimates. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor has criticised an MP who skipped the bulk of budget estimates hearings, saying representing constituents in parliament was an integral part of the job.

Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner largely gave budget estimates committee hearings this week a wide berth.

He said engaging with constituents was a more productive use of his time than sitting in a committee room for days on end, particularly when he had already decided to vote against the budget.

Labor’s Josh Willie said on Friday that MPs had “a fundamental responsibility as an elected representative to make sure your constituent’s views are being heard.”

“We have one of the worst budgets that have has ever been delivered in the state’s history, and it deserves every piece of scrutiny it can get,” he said.

Labor member for Clark Josh Willie. Budget estimates 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Jenner was one of three Jacqui Lambie Network members elected at the March state election and became the JLN’s only member in August after Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland were kicked out of the party by its founder.

Mr Willie said the minority Liberal government's support in parliament was looking more and more shaky by the day.

“It is a messy situation. Don’t forget Premier Rockliff is relying on now not only an agreement with a collective Jacqui Lambie Network Party but four different MPs — and one MP is going to vote against the budget.

“So this is a very unstable situation for the premier to navigate.

“He’s now relying on Kristie Johnston’s vote, and she’s described her arrangement more as a working arrangement than a confidence and supply agreement.”

Minister Madeleine Ogilvie. Picture: Linda Higginson

Liberal minister Madeleine Ogilvie was more sympathetic to Mr Jenner’s decision.

“It’s entirely a question for Mr Jenner, how he chooses to spend his time,” she said.

“What I will say about estimates, though, is we have an expanded parliament and we have a great diversity of people at the table.

“These are long days, I know we’ve all been there during the last week, but a really good conversation has been had between the government and the ministers, me being one of those, and the other side of the table scrutinising what we do as a government.

“I have come away from these conversations with ideas that can come from anywhere, about things we might look at, things we might do better, and other bits of information that are helpful on my side of the table as well.”

Mr Willie said his major learnings from estimates included big cuts to the public service, a 10 per cent increase in crime and plans to privatise the Public Trustee.

Originally published as ‘Part of the job’: Labor criticises MP who skipped estimates