Because there are so many demands on Members' time and they are presented with such a wide variety of tasks, Members determine their own job descriptions simply by deciding which they think are the most important and choosing which to do first or spend the most time on. Whatever set of tasks MPs find themselves doing, it requires a range of skills and problem-solving techniques. Members work long hours in the House, on parliamentary committee work and in their electorates attending to the demands and problems of their constituents. They attend a constant round of engagements to which they are invited because of their position in the community as parliamentarians. The ear of the parliamentarian is constantly sought at these functions.
Attendance is necessary to keep in touch with community developments and attitudes.
When the House is sitting it meets for between 7 and 10 hours a day and sometimes even longer. Although a Member will not sit in the Chamber all the time, he or she will keep in touch with proceedings via a television service provided to each Member's office and be ready to attend in the House at any time to vote in a division, to make a speech or to lend support to a colleague. In addition a Member may spend several hours each day attending meetings of the Main Committee, parliamentary committees, party committees and other groups. Being well informed and up to date is vital if an MP is to come to grips with the great range of legislation and other issues dealt with by the House and provide an effective link between the public and the Parliament. Backbenchers spend a great deal of time reading, although no backbencher can expect to read all the material sent to Members at Parliament House.