Government, coalition block extra Senate sittings

Backing one of the shortest Senate sitting schedules in history, the government and coalition joined forces today to block a Greens proposal for four weeks extra sitting in 2010.

The long term average for sittings in each year is 70 days. After only 52 days in 2009, the government has set only 50 days in 2010. Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown's amendment for an extra 16 days was supported across the crossbench but opposed by government and opposition.

The opposition's claim that it will extend sitting hours ‘if re-elected' was fatuous, Senator Brown said. The Howard government scheduled only 55 days in 2007 and 52 days in 2006.

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