Seven Labor MPs handed a $26,000 pay bump to run house committees on public policy have not launched inquiries since being appointed in July.

Liberal MP and manager of opposition business in the house Alex Hawke said that committees played a vital role in Australia’s democracy as a way to test ideas and get feedback, and more progress should have been made in three months.

“It’s through the committee system that we’ve seen important policy proposals put forward, such as the late Peta Murphy’s report into online gambling, which the government has still not responded to,” Hawke said.

“In my almost 20 years as an MP, I have never seen such mismanagement of the inquiry process.”

Standing house committees investigate any matter referred to them by the relevant minister but often also propos

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