Rex Patrick says Alex Antic among Liberal Canberra ‘shirkers’

The public must be shown how often their MP rocks up to work, Senator Rex Patrick says, as three Liberal senators are listed among SA’s quietest pollies in Canberra.

Three South Australian Liberal senators are among the quietest in federal politics, earning a sharp rebuke from independent MP Rex Patrick, who branded them Canberra “shirkers”.

Senators David Fawcett, Andrew McLachlan and Alex Antic have been identified by Parliamentary Library data as having the least to say in the house.

During the entire three-year term of the 46th Parliament, Senator Fawcett spoke in the Senate just 41 times across 139 sitting days and Senator Antic spoke 57 times.

Senator McLachlan, who joined parliament part-way through the term, spoke 45 times across his 101 sitting days.

Figures obtained by Senator Patrick showed that the three senators were mostly silent on legislation, as Senator Fawcett took part in debate on Bills seven times, while senators Antic and McLachlan participated six times each.

Senator Patrick said it was simply not good enough and that “Australians deserve to know precisely what their elected representatives do in Canberra”.

SA senator Rex Patrick wants data on MPs’ absenteeism to be publicly available. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

He is demanding parliamentary reform to give voters easy access to data showing how many times their MP misses parliament or how often they engage in debate. He said the data could only be produced by experts on request and was “not readily available” to the public.

“There really are too many slackers who, once preselected by their party machine and elected, are happy to take the money and all of the generous entitlements while not putting in much effort at all,” Senator Patrick claimed.

He suggested MPs and Senators should cop a penalty if they are absent for more than five sitting days a year without a legitimate excuse. The data does not cover parliamentary committee work.

Senator Antic defended his statistics and launched a scathing attack against Senator Patrick, who he criticised for filling the Senate with “hot air”.

“While I have been out fighting for our core values of freedom, individual choice and liberty, Rex was probably walking the streets squeezed into one of his little costumes,” Senator Antic said, adding: “it is very sad actually”.

Senator Alex Antic, who participates in Senate committee, launched a scathing attack on Rex Patrick.

“He should accept the role of a Senator involves more than pointlessly flapping your gums in the chamber.”

Senator Antic abstained from voting during the final weeks of parliament in protest against vaccine mandates.

Senator McLachlan, who joined parliament in February 2020, said the statistics were “meaningless” and that he worked “as part of a team” to fulfil the federal government’s legislative agenda.

“If every government Senator was to speak on every piece of legislation, there would be restricted time for independent Senators to have an opportunity to speak,” he said.

Senator Fawcett chaired the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

“While these responsibilities have required the majority of Senator Fawcett’s time, he has spoken on issues important to the state such as the Murray Darling Basin and on bills relating to national security,” a spokesman said.

Originally published as Rex Patrick says Alex Antic among Liberal Canberra ‘shirkers’