Albanese not biased in crossbench staffing row, minister says
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 01:20 · Archive
Cabinet minister Murray Watt has rejected One Nation accusations that Anthony Albanese is misusing his power over political staff allocations.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of trying to 'exert undue political influence' through staffing decisions. She described an allocation of extra staff to her MP David Farley as 'unsolicited'.
Cabinet minister Murray Watt rejected any impropriety on Sunday. He said Mr Farley had requested the additional staff member and that other regional MPs had received similar allocations. Senator Watt cited examples including Barnaby Joyce, Andrew Gee, Bob Katter and Helen Haines, all of whom had been given extra staff.
Crossbenchers receive five baseline allocations for electorate officers, but remain entirely dependent on the Prime Minister to approve or reject discretionary requests for policy advisers. Senator Hanson had demanded staffing levels equal to the Greens, a demand Senator Watt dismissed by noting that the Greens have more than double the number of senators that One Nation does and therefore have proportionally more staff.
How it is being reported
- Anthony Albanese not biased in staffing claims amid crossbench criticism, ministerOne of Anthony Albanese’s most trusted political operatives has been grilled on staffing numbers for crossbenchers amid accusations the PM is misusing his power.Perth Now · 1 Nov, 00:59
- Anthony Albanese not biased in staffing claims amid crossbench criticism, ministerOne of Anthony Albanese’s most trusted political operatives has been grilled on staffing numbers for crossbenchers amid accusations the PM is misusing his power.The West Australian · 1 Nov, 00:59
In this story: Anthony Albanese · Pauline Hanson · Murray Watt · David Farley · One Nation · Australian Greens · Australia
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