Leader of the House Jacinta Allan said the Nationals had not asked a question in lower house question time last week.

‘‘The Nationals have so little influence in the Opposition Coalition, they can’t convince their Liberal colleagues to give them even a single question,’’ she said.

‘‘How can regional and rural Victoria have confidence that National MPs will stand up for them if they can’t stand up for themselves against their Liberal masters?

‘‘The city control of the country party is now complete.’’

Ms Kealy labelled the criticism a desperate media stunt and said Ms Allan should focus on delivering for country Victoria.

‘‘If Jacinta Allan actually cared about rural and regional Victoria and listened to what country MPs say, she would know we’ve been raising the Murray Basin Rail, country fuel prices and a public transport review and passenger rail transport services in western Victoria,’’ she said.

Ms Kealy said there was more to parliamentary voice than question time.

‘‘There’s so many different parliamentary forums to raise issues about things important to local communities,’’ she said.

‘‘It can be in adjournments and I raised issues when debating a bill this week.’’

Ms Kealy said the Nationals had input into opposition questions.

‘‘Throughout the week of Parliament we are involved completely in the development of questions and we also raise our own matters through adjournments,’’ she said.

‘‘We have opportunities to raise our local issues and we will continue to do that to make sure country Victoria has a voice in Parliament.’’

The government has reformed question time by replacing Dorothy Dixers – where backbenchers ask ministers questions, giving them a chance to promote the government – with ministerial statements.

The statements give ministers two minutes to advise the house about government initiatives and projects.