PRIME Minister Albanese has been labelled “vindictive” by One Nation and the Coalition after cutting MPs and Senators’ staffing numbers.
A furious Pauline Hanson says One Nation has denied its fair share of advisers despite doubling its Senate seats, accusing Albanese of a “capricious and politically motivated” move.
Senator Hanson and her colleague Malcolm Roberts were allocated two senior advisers each in the previous term but after One Nation won two extra seats at the May election, Albanese has allocated the party four adviser positions – just one for each senator.
“Adequate staffing only applies if the prime minister doesn’t deem you a political threat,” Hanson told media. “I will seek an urgent meeting with the prime minister in an effort to renegotiate the staff One Nation are allocated.”
Due to some treasonous provision in the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (passed by the Fabian PM Bob Hawke), the Prime Minister has discretion over the allocation of personal staff, which are typically more senior advisers who assist MPs with policy development, political strategy and media.
With federal parliament set to resume on July 22nd, Albanese’s staffing allocations came very late for opposition and crossbench MPs for the next term.
Albanese informed the Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Monday night that the Opposition would lose about 20 personal staff roles, including 16 senior adviser positions.
The Coalition had 106 personal staff positions before the election, 39 of which were based in the former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s office. The decision was based on the Coalition’s reduced numbers after it lost 15 lower house seats and three Senate spots at the May 3rd election.
However, contrary to early rumours that Labor cut no staff, Albanese reportedly cut 10 of the government’s own positions, reducing its staffing numbers despite gaining 21 new MPs and senators at the election.
The government had a horde of 499 staffing positions in the last parliament, including 65 in Albanese’s office.
The Coalition argues it is entitled to 21% of the government’s allocation under a longstanding parliamentary convention, which would equate to about 102 positions for Ley’s team. However they ended up with about 85.
The Shadow Special Minister of State, James McGrath, called Albanese’s decision “vindictive and nasty” and an “attack on accountability”.
The Greens’ staffing numbers were also cut from 19 to 14 after the loss of three seats and defection of Dorinda Cox reduced their numbers in federal parliament from 15 to 11.
Several independent MPs and senators confirmed told The Guardian Australia that their staffing numbers were unchanged from the previous term.
The Prime Minister’s office, in a statement, said it was “routine practice to revise staff allocations in a new parliamentary term” and staffing allocations were made based “on a range of considerations, including demonstrated need and individual circumstances”.
