Second District Representative Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull has challenged Education Minister Sharie de Castro over her absence from the House of Assembly, saying she has left his constituents without answers on schools and community facilities for four months.
The Speaker told legislators that de Castro was unable to attend due to a personal matter. Turnbull pointed out that other cabinet members, including the Premier, had shown up to respond to questions, but his own inquiries kept getting postponed.
"For four months these questions have been posed," Turnbull said in the House. "Then I come to ask my questions, it's automatically being placed to the next sitting. When is the next sitting going to happen? After the election? This is not right, this is abuse. And it's sad."
Turnbull's inquiries focused on schools, recreation facilities and youth facilities across his district, which has six schools. He argued he cannot represent his communities effectively without receiving responses.
He contended that if the minister could not attend, the Premier or Acting Premier should have delivered prepared answers instead. "These answers should have been prepared," Turnbull said. "These answers should have been provided, or be able to be answered."
Turnbull also highlighted what he saw as inconsistent participation by de Castro. She appeared during budget debates to seek funding for her ministry, he noted, but remained unavailable when facing questions about her performance.
"It seems that the only time some people come here is when they have to deal with their subject matter," he observed.
Turnbull stressed that ministers must do more than promote their own portfolios. "You have a responsibility to the people," he said. "I believe it is important that all of us take our jobs with that type of urgency."
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