A move by the Labor party for the Parliament to hold extra sitting days during the winter break has failed to gain the support of the lower house.
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It was supported by the Greens but voted down by the government and Clark independent MHA Madeleine Ogilvie.
Amending a motion put forward by the government, Labor leader Rebecca White said the Parliament should sit during July instead of returning as planned in mid-August.
"There will be no opportunity for the government to have its activities scrutinised by Parliament because we will be in winter recess," Ms White said.
"It's important we continue to sit during the state of emergency."
Labor finance spokesman David O'Byrne said extra sitting days would allow the Parliament to address non-COVID related legislation.
"Given the fact other state governments have dealt with more than the COVID response, we think it's important to come back," Mr O'Byrne said.
"The winter recess is traditionally off the back of a very intense budget session - we haven't gone through that because the budget was delayed until November 12."
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Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said she thought this was a stunt by the Labor party but that the Greens would support the amendment because herself and Franklin Greens MHA Rosalie Woodruff would never vote against more opportunities for scrutiny.
Leader of the House Michael Ferguson said the government had achieved the legislation on its agenda, with two bills passing through both houses of Parliament on Wednesday.
"We've actually set aside much of our legislative agenda that was due to occur between March and now. We are happy to reshape our own program to make sure we don't burden the house in the later part of the year," Mr Ferguson said.
Mr Ferguson said there was continued oversight of executive actions, such as through the Subordinate Legislation committee.
"Scrutiny does, can and should continue," he said.
Ms Ogilvie did not speak on the amendment.