Mr Shorten's chief economic spokesman, Chris Bowen, is second on the list with 63 questions; deputy and education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek is third with 60; and the manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, is fourth with 43. These are also unsurprising results given the trio's policy areas.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has asked by far the most questions, which is to be expected, with 173 in the current Parliament, or about 34 per cent.

A breakdown of who asks questions for Labor provided by Parliament House's Chamber Research Office shows Mr Albanese is way down the list of frontbench MPs.

While Mr Albanese's portfolio is not the most high-profile policy area, the government did make a series of multibillion-dollar announcements in the most recent budget, including plans to construct Western Sydney airport and to build an inland rail line from Melbourne to Brisbane.

Political allies of Mr Albanese in Labor believe he is deliberately being denied a moment in the spotlight, as asking questions of the government is a key part of Parliament's theatre.

Coalition MPs have been taunting Labor in Parliament in recent weeks – following an alternative budget-in-reply speech from Mr Albanese that was just different enough from Bill Shorten's – and asking why the skilful tactician and former leader of the house under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard rarely asks a question.

On Thursday, for example, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce urged Mr Shorten to "give the member for Grayndler [Mr Albanese] a question. You should treat him fairly. Be fairer, and give that gentleman a question. You should let that man go to that box and ask a question, but you won't."

Mr Albanese also trails some lesser known colleagues on the frontbench, according to the research.