Federal parliament’s loudest voices – how active is your MP?

One of SA’s federal politicians is absent from parliament more than half the time and rarely speaks – while others revel in the spotlight. See the data for every local MP.

New data has revealed how active and vocal South Australia’s 22 MPs and senators are when representing their state within Canberra’s corridors of power.

The figures show politicians who are independent or from minor parties are the most active in federal parliament, engaging in more legal debates and asking more questions than Labor and Liberal backbenchers in safe seats.

The data, which covers the current term that started in July 2019, shows how many days each MP was absent from parliament, how often they spoke and their involvement in legislation.

The figures do not disclose reasons for absences, such as medical or parental leave.

It was obtained from the parliament’s library research service by independent SA senator Rex Patrick, who said it shows “who is really pulling their weight” to earn a taxpayer-funded salary of at least $211,000 a year.

But conservative Liberal senator Alex Antic, who had low speaking numbers, said “unnecessarily flapping gums” and “loving the sound of one’s voice” shouldn’t be a measure of success.

Senator Patrick said South Australians “deserve to know who is and isn’t working hard for them”.

“It seems that the safer an MP or senator feels their position is, the less time they spend earning their salaries representing their constituents in parliament and the more time they focus on party politics and factional disputes,” he said.

The outspoken senator has only missed one sitting day this term and has debated on various bills 427 times, more than any other South Australian.

“If representatives have nothing to say or contribute beyond the party lines then there is no value in having them in parliament,” he said.

Senator Patrick acquired the data from the Australian Parliament’s library research service.

The figures show outgoing MP Nick Champion, in the plum Labor seat of Spence, has missed more than half of all sitting days during the current 46th session.

The longtime backbencher explained a three-month United Nations posting in New York in 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic, and undergoing a crucial septoplasty earlier this year meant he had to miss 74 out of 144 sitting days so far this term in the House of Representatitves.

Members were marked as present when they participated remotely – something Mr Champion declined to do for much of the pandemic.

Labor MP Nick Champion holds a copy of The Daily Telegraph during question time at Parliament House in Canberra in 2013.

“I’ve chosen not to do it remotely … making speeches into a camera in your office isn’t my big thing,” he said.

“I’m also in my last term, so I figure every opportunity I take at this point I am taking off somebody who is trying to get re-elected on the Labor side.”

His UN posting cost almost $100,000 of taxpayer money.

Mr Champion, who has only spoken 22 times in federal parliament this term, is set to take over retiring MP Jon Gee’s state seat of Taylor at the March 2022 election.

A bipartisan selection of South Australian MPs: Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan, Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie, Independent senator Rex Patrick, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Labor senator Don Farrell, Labor senator Marielle Smith and Liberal MP James Stevens. Picture: Claire Bickers

Senator Antic, who took over from Cory Bernardi in July 2019, spoke in parliament just 54 times and rarely debated bills.

“Parliamentary business isn’t about reading talking points in the media and parroting speeches which have been prepared by staff members,” he said.

Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie asked more questions than all of her SA colleagues.

She has so far asked 174 questions this term and has debated on various bills 81 times.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young participated in debates 115 times and only missed one sitting day.

Labor senator Marielle Smith was on maternity leave from late 2020 to early this year.

Her opposition colleague Amanda Rishworth, who holds the seat of Kingston, said: “I take my parliamentary role very seriously. My very few absent days were due to me taking maternity leave - which I believe is important to ensure we allow mothers to be federal members of parliament.”

Liberal senator Alex Antic said he missed 16 sitting days while he was on paternity leave.

Liberal Nicolle Flint, who holds the seat of Boothby but is not recontesting it, tweeted that she was absent for medical reasons.

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Originally published as Federal parliament’s loudest voices – how active is your MP?