Opposition Senator Wade Mark firmly believes the 2 parliamentary Joint Select Committees will be ineffective.

He says it is difficult for 12 committee members to monitoring 23 government ministries.

Senator Mark made these statements in the Upper House during yesterday’s debate on the issue.

Leader of Government Business in the Senate Conrad Enill maintains the reduction in JCS from 3 to2, is in the public’s best interest.

But Senator Mark insists 2 committees cannot successfully scrutinise Central Government.

He states this situation is further complicated if Government Ministers chair the JSCs.

The Opposition senator also chastises Government for criticising the work of Independent Senators in chairing the committees.

He says Government ministers failed to regularly attend JSC meetings in the previous Parliament.

Mark cities this lack of interest in hampering the work of the select committees.