As it turns out, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard really DO take longer to answer questions than their predecessors.
We looked at Question Times in August and September this year and last year and at the start of last year, and compared them to similar dates in 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, looking at how long Prime Ministers and their deputies took to answer questions.
Julia Gillard is streets ahead in prolixity, averaging nearly 750 words per answer, or over 200 more than her boss.
The Prime Minister, however, is master of the set-piece Dorothy Dixer where he rises, usually for the second question of the day, and bores the Parliament into a coma by reading a 1000-word essay into Hansard.
John Howard, in contrast, was the soul of brevity, at around 350 words, more than half Julia Gillard’s average, less even than Peter Costello. Indeed, there was a day in February 2007 when Howard was particularly terse, taking 17 questions and answering them in less than 100 words each.
Rudd and Gillard might learn from their predecessors that, every so often, a brisk “no” is the best answer of all.
| Total questions | Total word count | Average of totals | Shortest complete answer | |
| Rudd | 26 | 13501 | 519.3 | 102 |
| Gillard | 9 | 6712 | 745.8 | 31 |
| Howard | 38 | 13341 | 351.1 | 1 |
| Vaile | 8 | 3698 | 462.5 | 1 |
| Costello | 5 | 1907 | 381.4 | 75 |
| Anderson | 2 | 1276 | 638 | 74 |
| Date | Name | No. of questions | Answer word count in total | Average words per answer |
| 15/09/09 | Rudd | 6 | 1126 | 187.7 |
| 15/09/09 | Gillard | 2 | 759 | 379.5 |
| 20/08/09 | Rudd | 3 | 1776 | 592 |
| 20/08/09 | Gillard | 2 | 978 | 489 |
| 19/08/09 | Rudd | 2 | 3951 | 1975.5 |
| 19/08/09 | Gillard | 2 | 2091 | 1045 |
| 27/08/08 | Rudd | 7 | 4293 | 613.3 |
| 27/08/08 | Gillard | 3 | 1334 | 444.7 |
| 13/02/08 | Rudd | 8 | 2355 | 294.4 |
| 13/02/08 | Gillard | 2 | 1647 | 823.5 |
| 06/02/07 | Howard | 17 | 1606 | 94.5 |
| 06/02/07 | Vaile | 1 | 2381 | 2381 |
| 07/02/06 | Howard | 4 | 2431 | 607.5 |
| 07/02/06 | Vaile | 7 | 1317 | 188.1 |
| 17/08/06 | Howard | 3 | 4181 | 1393.7 |
| 17/08/06 | Costello | 1 | 296 | 296 |
| 14/06/05 | Howard | 6 | 2155 | 359.2 |
| 14/06/05 | Costello | 4 | 1611 | 402.7 |
| 12/08/04 | Howard | 8 | 2968 | 371 |
| 12/08/04 | Anderson | 2 | 1276 | 638 |
Additional research, Crikey intern Nina Nicoll.
Does Bernard Keane really think that anybody living outside Canberra is the slightest bit interested about parliamentary question time. Very few care about what questions were asked by whom, of whom, what the reply was, what points of order were raised, whether questions were answered or not or what childish antics the participants got up to. What happens in Canberra is important only to Canberrans. The rest of us know that these are the proceedings of a mob of self-serving shonks, spivs, dopes and dills with the very occasional altruistic decent person who has no hope of changing anything.
Why is my avatar a red swastika?
Of course, they forget to mention, that Costello, Abbott and Downer were three of the most sarcastic, offensive and revolting little turds that ever ‘graced’ the dispatch box. Howard was so arrogant, that when he was asked a question, he didn’t answer it, but just arrogantly pushed the ‘policies’, reputation etc of his government. Julia Gillard, clever as she is, couldn’t hope to be as rude, cynical and revolting as those lot. The now Opposition didn’t care about the protocols of the parliament when they had the numbers. They put on the gag and guillotine whenever they didn’t want to be asked pertinent questions or answer legitimate concerns of the electorate via their local members. How soon you lot forget. Perhaps you didn’t watch/listen to Parliament then.
I don’t agree with all the policies and actions of this government, but at least I don’t swallow the bullshit accusations and whining of the now opposition. Hypocritical lot!
They took the high moral ground, and behaved like with the ‘born to rule’ mentality that they believe. They are outraged, that the people chose this ‘rabble’ instead of them! How dare we? Amost everything they accuse the Rudd govt of, they completely ignored while in govt – increase in the aged pension. When they were in govt, I never heard Brendon Nelson speak out about the plight of pensioners once – and yet he spoke of our impoverished position when he was Opposition leader, and angrily claimed, that we should receive at least $30 per week increase – I almost had a stroke I was so angry! They disgust me!
I remember the WorstChoices legislation for example. For weeks prior to the date, some journalists, workers and others were asking questions and seeking clarification etc. They were told, ‘just wait until the legislation is in the public domain, and your questions will be answered’? (go back and look at the media)On the day the legislation was introduced(was it Melbourne Cup day or the day after? when people were busy elsewhere anyway) they put on the gag and guillotine, passed the Legislation without hardly any debate. I believe a similar thing happened re the Anti-Terrorism Act legislation. Howard was the first PM who didn’t allow debate over invading another country, prior to the invasion of Iraq. I think that’s showing more contempt for Parliament than taking ‘too long’ to answer questions in Parliament. They had the numbers and adopted an ‘open slather’ mentality. You may not remember or even took notice – I did!
I certainly remember lots and lots of incidents like those I mentioned above. At least Julia Gillard and others on her side aren’t insulting those in the community who are doing it tough, or putting the boot in to those on the bottom of the economic ladder, nor are they locking up kids and making them sick – for life! It’s all about priorities. When Howard, Costello, Downer, Ruddock were lying and cheating us, and then taking the high moral ground, of which the media didn’t question or accuse, how many spoke out for those who were on the receiving end. I don’t recall the media outrage then! I haven’t forgotten, and will never forgive them for it!
I think you people have had it so good, that all this just washed over you without you even blinking! Some of us are still smarting over Howard and his band of revolting colleagues!