The Prime Minister has cancelled Parliament next week in a shocking move that does not sit well in our democracy.

Instead of doing his job, Malcolm Turnbull has decided he will have a week off rather than face Labor’s calls for a banking Royal Commission, rather than face up to his attack on penalty rates, rather than face the 53 items of legislative business that could be actively debated by the House of Representatives next week.

He has shown a blatant disregard for all those people and organisations who have scheduled meetings with MPs in Canberra. Charities, local councils and industry groups from around the country now face the cost of flights and accommodation to meetings that may not take place.

The Turnbull Government has shown an arrogant disregard for the ongoing bipartisan work of the Committees of the Parliament. Unlike the Prime Minister, I will not dismiss my responsibility to participate in the important work of the Joint Standing Committees on Human Rights; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade; and Public Accounts and Audit.

He has shown a blatant disregard to the community expecting my attendance at school graduations, constituent meetings and electorate commitments which will all be cancelled should he decide Parliament will sit for another week in December.

This manipulation of parliamentary sitting dates is a disgraceful and undemocratic move by a government running scared and utterly unable to do its job and govern the country.