State politicians head back to parliament on Tuesday for the first time since the March 23 election - the first of just 35 sitting days this year.
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That's the shortest sitting year for the state parliament in more than a decade; since the 2007 Iemma Labor government sat for 35 days.
Illawarra MPs are divided on whether the short sitting calendar is a problem.
Wollongong Labor MP Paul Scully expressed concerns that fewer sitting days did "limit the scrutiny to which the government can be subjected".
Mr Scully also pointed out the restriction on lodging questions on notice; MPs can lodge three written questions to ministers each sitting day - fewer sitting days means fewer chances to ask those questions.
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"Those questions on notice have a fixed timeline as to when a response has got to be provided," the Wolllongong MP said.
"Ministers are required to respond to those within 35 days.
"The fewer parliamentary sitting days we have the fewer the opportunities we've got to ask those questions on notice and there comes increasing delays in getting what should be simple answers to provide information back to our community."
These formal questions could get a response faster than writing to a government minister.
Mr Scully said he had written to several government ministers directly after the election but was "yet to receive a single response".
For Liberal Families, Communities and Disability Services minister and Kiama MP Gareth Ward, a reduction in the number of questions on notice members can ask didn't restrict an MP's efforts to do their job.
"In this day and age there are many ways members can raise issues on behalf of their communities," the Kiama MP said.
"I'm one of the most accessible members of parliament in our region.
"Anyone knows if they've got any questions for me they can ring me any time, they can write to me as members of parliament do.
"It's been suggested we'll have a longer that usual budget estimates period where members have got the opportunity to ask questions."
A sitting year of just 35 days didn't trouble Mr Ward either.
"I'm happy to spend more time in my electorate, working with my community and taking up issues directly with the government - which I will continue to do."
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
