Services Australia is spending $620,000 over two years for a speechwriter for Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten, despite the agency employing more than 180 people in its communications unit.

Sydney-based speechwriter Julianne Stewart has been paid $447,516 so far as part of her two-year communications contract with Services Australia, under temporary arrangements reported on the government’s AusTender website. The contract was extended in September for a second year.