Criticism of Labor as Senate Faces Challenge of Reviewing 40 Bills on Last Sitting Day

The Labor government has faced criticism for potentially undermining parliamentary transparency as MPs deal with the challenge of working through an “unprecedented” 40 bills in a single day.

The significant legislative push has drawn criticism from independents and the federal opposition.

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie delivered a strong rebuke in the Senate on Nov. 28, accusing the government of using legislative “guillotines”—time limits designed to stop prolonged debates—to push through complex legislation hastily.

Lambie described the move as an “absolutely shameful” tactic to avoid proper scrutiny.

“Last night, at 8:30, Labor sent us the mother of all guillotines—40 bills, many of them massive and undercooked,” she said.

“These aren’t minor tweaks or non-controversial matters—they’re raw to the bone,” she added.

Lambie highlighted major bills such as the proposed social media ban for under-16s, privacy reforms, migration, money laundering, and a veteran harmonisation bill.

She put forward a motion to oppose the government’s agenda in the house, but it did not succeed after receiving 33 votes to 33.

Former Liberal Party Senator Gerard Rennick expressed his frustration on social media, stating that numerous bills were being rushed through without adequate scrutiny.

“Many of them significant, including the online safety bill and the Treasury Amendment Laws regarding the powers of the RBA,” he wrote on Facebook.

“I had expected the Online Safety Bill to be debated last night but it wasn’t.”

‘Unprecedented and Extraordinary’: Opposition

Senate Opposition Leader Simon Birmingham also criticized the government’s actions, labeling them as “unprecedented” and “extraordinary.”

“This was supposed to be the government of transparency, accountability, and proper process,” Birmingham addressed the Senate.

Birmingham mentioned that, in his nearly 18 years in the Senate, he had never witnessed anything of this magnitude.

“To pass 41 bills in a single day is remarkable and disgraceful,” he stated.

He called on the government to retract its motion and reconsider its legislative strategy.

“This does not align with how a responsible government should function. This is not the behavior of a government committed to transparency and accountability,” he remarked.

Despite opposing the motion, Birmingham assured the Coalition’s cooperation on urgent matters, citing instances of collaboration earlier in the fortnight on aged care, education, and land rights bills.

“We are open to working with the government constructively, but we will not be manipulated,” he asserted.

Labor Defends Push, Says Opposition Not Cooperating

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher defended the government’s actions, attributing the heavy reliance on guillotines to the opposition’s obstructive behavior.

“The number of guillotines is a direct result of the lack of cooperation from the other side,” Gallagher argued.

“Weeks have passed without a single bill being passed.”

She argued that many of the bills being hurried through had been on the list for over a year and criticized the federal opposition for obstructing non-controversial legislation.

“These are not last-minute surprises. Vote yes or no, but do not impede the process,” Gallagher stated.

She pledged to stay as long as needed to advance the government’s legislative agenda.

“We have the right to present our priorities to the Senate. This is not about cutting democracy short—it is about progressing the crucial work that Australians need.”

She noted that most of the proposed bills had already undergone months of debate and scrutiny.

Gallagher rejected accusations of secrecy and poor preparation, emphasizing the government’s willingness to engage across the aisle.

Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong urged the chamber to cease debating procedures and focus on discussing the issues affecting Australia.

Greens Largely Onboard With Government Agenda

Wong’s statement prompted Greens Senator Nick McKim to outline his crossbench’s specific objections to parts of the government’s legislative agenda.

McKim requested that three specific provisions—the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill, and the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support, Simplification and Harmonisation Bill 2024—be voted on separately.

“So that we can take a different position on those while maintaining our stance on the broader motion.”

By the time this story was filed, over an hour of Senate proceedings had been consumed debating whether to proceed with discussion on key bills.