Anthony Albanese accuses Malcolm Turnbull of trying to avoid scrutiny

Anthony Albanese has accused the PM of trying to avoid scrutiny from colleagues if he puts the by-elections off until July.

Leaders have historically been dumped by their parties in the parliamentary sitting weeks immediately preceding the six week winter break. Picture: AAP

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has accused Malcolm Turnbull of trying to avoid scrutiny from colleagues if he puts the “Super Saturday” of five by-elections off until July.

Speaker Tony Smith is yet to reveal when by-elections will be held in the Tasmanian seat of Braddon, the Queensland seat of Longman, the South Australian seat of Mayo and the West Australian seats of Fremantle and Perth, following the resignations of sitting members as a result of probable dual citizenship and WA Labor MP Tim Hammond’s decision to leave politics.

Mr Albanese, a former leadership rival of Labor leader Bill Shorten, implied Mr Turnbull was attempting to avoid the period known as the “Killing Season”, when leaders have historically been dumped by their parties in the parliamentary sitting weeks immediately preceding the six week winter break.

Parliament is due to sit from June 18, rising for the winter break on June 28, presenting the perfect opportunity for dissatisfied parties to put pressure on Malcolm Turnbull or Bill Shorten should their parties fare badly in a June 16 by-election.

Should the by-election be delayed until July, the leaders’ would be able to face the “Killing Season” confident in the knowledge that their leadership would be safe in the lead-up to Super Saturday.

“Let’s call these by-elections,” Mr Albanese told Perth radio 6PR last night.

“I read today that these by-elections might be put off until July.

“Now, the only reason why that would happen would be if Malcolm Turnbull didn’t want the scrutiny that will come if by-elections are held on 16th June, which is when they should held.”

Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne said Mr Albanese was talking “rubbish”, and the Speaker would determine the date of the by-elections.

“Of course because of the citizenship debacle that Bill Shorten has visited upon the Australian people yet again, we need to make sure that all the processes are in place; that this doesn’t happen a third time,” Mr Pyne told 6PR.

“So the government with the AEC will go through its proper processes. They’ll give advice to the Speaker. The Speaker will make a decision and of course we’ll be running in the by-elections.

“We’ve already announced candidates, just as we would whenever it’s called and the date is immaterial.

“It’s the outcome that matters, and these elections give people an opportunity to protest against the $220 billion of new taxes that Bill Shorten wants to levy on people.”

Mr Shorten said he was a “little surprised” the by-election date had not already been announced, but it was a decision for the Speaker.

“When Barnaby Joyce had to face the people and John Alexander pulled the pin, they had to face the people pretty quickly,” he said.

“We want to move on with it. I think that’s the case.”

Asked whether he believed Mr Smith was waiting until the LNP had preselected a candidate in Longman, Mr Shorten said he would not “impugn the Speaker”.

“I think he does a good job,” Mr Shorten said.