Nationals MLC Wes Fang has again criticised what he calls a "stunt" in the NSW Legislative Council last week after reports emerged of a staffer testing positive for COVID-19.
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Last week every political party, except the government, turned up to Parliament in an attempt to resume proceedings.
The legislative council was due to return last week for the first time since June, however the government lobbied for the proceedings to be cancelled due to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
The chamber sat for almost an hour but was halted after president Matthew Mason-Cox accepted a point of order it could not operate without a minister or parliamentary secretary present.
Murray MP Helen Dalton stands by the move, arguing the real "stunt was that none of the ministers showed up".
On Thursday afternoon reports emerged that a NSW Parliament staff member - who was in Parliament when the Legislative Council attempted to sit - had tested positive for COVID-19.
The staffer allegedly entered Parliament after a negative rapid antigen test last week, but has since tested positive.
Mr Fang said this demonstrates why state parliament should not currently be sitting, and is concerned a super-spreader event may have happened if all members of parliament were present.
The Wagga-based MLC has called on Murray MP Helen Dalton to apologise for criticising him on his stance, calling the attempt to resume sitting an "absolute disgrace".
"Imagine if we had all contracted [the virus], went home and spread it to the regions," Mr Fang said.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Mrs Dalton said if every other business in the state can switch to virtual operations, including schools, NSW Parliament shouldn't be any different.
She hopes that when Parliament eventually resumes, provisions will be made so that she and other regional MPs can vote, raise points of order and submit questions remotely.
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"I think Wes' excuse for not sitting is pretty flimsy to say the least," Mrs Dalton said.
"We live in a democratic country, but at the moment I'm not feeling that."
Mrs Dalton said she is currently travelling around her electorate and that people are feeling "anxious" for Parliament to resume and discuss topics such as border closures and the pandemic.
"We need to have our say, we need to hold the government to account and that's my job - to absolutely represent the people of the Murray the best way I can," she said.
The state's lower and upper houses are both due to return on October 12, and Deputy Premier John Barilaro has suggested additional weeks will be added to the sitting calendar to replace those lost due to the COVID shutdown.
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