Politicians are often taken to task for not answering questions directly.

Greens leader Adam Bandt sought to rectify that on Thursday, moving to make straight answers a parliamentary rule.

“People want governments to answer questions, especially during something called Question Time,” Mr Bandt said.

“Not dodge the question, not talk about something else, not to answer a question that they wish they were asked.”

The current parliamentary standing orders say: “An answer must be directly relevant to the question.”

The Greens move, which was voted down, came after a rowdy Question Time on Wednesday.

The Greens accused Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek of dodging over continued gas and coal mine approvals, while the opposition lambasted Transport Minister Catherine King for her responses when quizzed about the government’s rejection of Qatar Airways flights and her meetings with airline chiefs.

Crossbenchers including Allegra Spender, Zoe Daniel, Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall supported the motion, with Ms Spender labelling current Question Time procedures “self-indulgent and wasteful”.

“It is a major party’s shouting match. It is unedifying and it actually is detrimental to people’s understanding and belief in politicians and our democratic processes,” Ms Spender said.

However, Leader of the House Tony Burke defended his government’s actions.

He said ministers answered questions and also noted many of the questions were political statements.

“(They are) effectively statements with a small question at the end for the purpose of making a point,” he said.

The motion failed with 16 in favour and 51 against.

– AAP