New Analysis Shows Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps Tops Time Spent Doing Her Job
Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps at a community event during her Summer 'break'. Photo: AJG/PON
Federal politicians headed back to Canberra this week, just as new analysis on they use their time in Parliament was released.
The time spent on political theatre and sledging are almost on par with policy debate in the Australian parliament, according to Australian-first analysis from Amplify, a not-for-profit group researching community views and promoting policy.
The Amplify House Monitor used AI to categorise more than 16,000 speeches over an estimated 625 hours from the first six months of the parliamentary term (mid-July 2025 - end December 2025).
While lifting productivity is high on the political agenda, the analysis shows MPs and Senators wasted more than a third of their time on political theatre and bad behaviour, spending the equivalent of 28 business days criticising and attacking one another.
Excluding parliamentary procedure and formalities, nearly 50% of the remaining time was spent on political theatre and bad behaviour.
The analysis of Hansard showed Mackellar MP and Independent Dr. Sophie Scamps spent the most time on policy.
In an Interview with ABC Radio National on Monday Dr. Scamps said:
‘’I was really pleased and I think my team are really pleased as well because the reason I came into politics was to be constructive and collaborative and to bring in fresh ideas and I think that's reflected in these results.’’
Dr. Scamps has not only been turning up and doing her job, without enormous fanfare and much ado, some of her introduced amendments have been taken up by the government and helped federal politics closer reflect community expectations – the Scamps amendment ideas for a water trigger for mining projects, for example, were adopted by the Australian Government in December 2023.
When parliament was recalled early in response to the attack on a children’s Hannukah party, Dr Scamps' amendment to establish a National Firearms Safety Council was also supported by the government.
‘’It is great news for Australians that in passing the new national gun laws the Government has agreed to establish a National Firearms Safety Council akin to the one I proposed in my amendment to the bill. A National Firearms Safety Council is based on the work of the National Gun Safety Alliance and would ensure a public health and safety lens is applied to gun control in Australia.’’ Dr. Scamps stated on January 21
Fellow Independent and MP for Wentworth Allegra Spender was ranked fourth on time spent on policy.
Ms Spender told the ABC’s Radio National:
‘’I think all parliamentarians, particularly leaders, need to take their responsibility for behaving in the way that the community expects. But also, we need change that parliamentary rule book, the standing orders. And for instance, make sure that in parliament, people are expected to treat people with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. Those are values that parliamentarians are meant to uphold, but they don't currently apply in the chamber.’’
The analysis shows in the last six months of Parliament, 28 business days were wasted on political point scoring, instead of solving the big issues that we face.
Founded and chaired by venture capitalist Paul Basset with board members including former New South Wales Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet and former Queensland Labor MP Kate Jones, Amplify’s CEO is Georgina Harrison, a former public servant.
“Australia is facing flatlining productivity, a nationwide housing crisis, growing levels of national debt and rising inflation, but instead of focusing on policy our politicians are more focused on political point-scoring and chest-thumping,” Georgina Harrisson said.
“Australians overwhelmingly want their elected representatives to focus on solutions to the big issues impacting them and their communities, not sledging each other.”
Amplify’s most recent national survey found 72% of Australians believe politicians are more focused on winning votes than solving problems and the Amplify House Monitor reinforces what the community already knows.
Key insights from Amplify’s House Monitor
- Australian politicians are spending less than 40% of their total time in the House of Representatives and the Senate debating policy (37.5%).
- They are spending nearly as much time on political theatre (32%), which includes partisan attacks and promoting their party.
- Bad behaviour made up 3.4% of parliamentary speeches, which includes hostile language, personal attacks and interjections.
- Excluding parliamentary procedure and formalities, almost 50% of remaining available parliamentary time was spent on political theatre and bad behaviour.
- MPs and Senators spent approximately 220 hours (equivalent to 28 business days) on political theatre and bad behaviour.
This is nowhere near good enough to address the significant national challenges we face, Amplify states. Our research shows 71% of Australians believe the promise of a fair go, rising living standards and the belief each generation will enjoy greater prosperity than the last has been broken.
More specifically, AMPLIFY’s most recent national survey showed Aussies want urgent action to address housing (75%) and the cost of living (62%).
The scale of our housing crisis is unprecedented, with nearly 90% of homes out of reach for households on median incomes and the Productivity Commission finding that housing productivity, measured by houses completed per hour of construction work, is down by more than 50% over the last 30 years.
“Australians are facing a worsening housing crisis that requires every level of government to substantially lift its productivity to restore the promise of home ownership for current and future generations,” Ms Harrisson said.
“Political trust is breaking down. If we have any hope of restoring trust in government we’ve got to start with what happens in Canberra. Our politicians must do better.”
The Amplify House Monitor also categorises the speeches of every MP and Senator to provide transparency on how politicians spend their time.
“Our goal is to give Australians insight into how our representatives engage with each other and on the issues that matter,” Ms Harrisson said.
“Providing this transparency gives us the best chance of bringing about the change we all want and need to see.”
For more detailed information on the Amplify House Monitor visit their website: www.amplifyaus.org/our-work/housemonitor
Methodology
Each speech segment has been coded using a large language model to understand how parliamentarians use their time in parliament.
The model classified every segment into five broad debate categories:
- Policy (introducing, debating and voting on legislation, as well as motions)
- Political theatre (partisan attacks and credit-claiming)
- Bad behaviour (personal attacks and heckling)
- Formalities (points of order, tabling of reports, scheduling)
- Recognition (tributes, community recognition, shoutouts and promotion)