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October 10, 2024
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing pressure to change the schedule of Question Time to allow politicians and staffers to watch the Melbourne Cup event.
The "race that stops the nation" will occur on November 5 during the same time as MPs hold a grilling session inside Canberra's Parliament House.
For the first time in 13 years Question Time will be held during Melbourne Cup, leaving many MPs across the political divide disappointed they will miss out on the race.
The Coalition is pushing the government to move it from the usual 2-3pm timeslot to a morning sitting of 10am so politicians can enjoy the race in the afternoon.
Liberal MP Dan Tehan described the move from Mr Albanese as "un-Australian" and it is "beyond a joke" millions across the country can enjoy the event, but they could not.
“It is the race that stops the nation, and the fact that it will stop the nation everywhere, apart from the 151 elected representatives of the nation, is beyond a joke," he said.
Award-winning horse trainer Chris Wallace backed the opposition, describing the Melbourne Cup as "one of those very special moments in Australia".
“Racing is part of Australia’s heart, and it brings people together. It’s done it through the Depression. It’s done it through some really tough times. It’s done it through wars. When wars are over, it brings all genders together," he said to The Herald Sun.
Speaking to Sky News Australia, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson said the Senate Question Time had always happened during the Melbourne Cup.
"We manage to fit Question Time (in), doing our jobs and still watch the Melbourne Cup afterwards, so there you go," he said to First Edition host Peter Stefanovic.
Pressed if the "race that stops the nation" is more important than running a country, Mr Paterson raised the point the PM had moved Question Time "for his convenience".
"He said it was so he could leave to go to ASEAN and he finished Question Time after only just one hour in the House of Representatives... it normally goes longer than that... but 40 minutes later he was talking to your colleague Kieran Gilbert," he said.
Mr Paterson stressed he was not discouraging anyone from appearing on Sky News Australia, but it was "clear" the PM was not "rushing off to the airport".
"He was hanging around his office, probably having a few meetings, having a cup of tea, having a chat with Kieran, the maybe he went to get on a plane," he said.
"I don't think you need to reorganise Question Time if really it's about a media commitment and a meeting, rather than actually travelling for international business."
Mr Albanese altered the schedule for Wednesday's grilling session to 10am, citing he had to fly to Laos for the ASEAN summit in the afternoon.
