Independent MPs, Senators ‘can’t do job properly’ with Labor rule change

Independent MPs and senators like David Pocock say they can’t do their job properly thanks to a massive rule change from the new Prime Minister.

Independent politicians are calling for the Albanese government to urgently repeal planned staffing cuts, which they say creates an “unfair playing field”, rendering it nearly impossible to do their jobs.

The Prime Minister sent a letter to 12 independent MPs and six senators on Friday – who he will need to help his government pass legislation – telling them their personal staffing allowance would be cut from four to one.

The Greens have been excluded from the rule change.

Anthony Albanese said sacrifices had been made “across the board” to rein in public funds, and the cuts would save taxpayers $1.5 million.

Crossbenchers will still have access to four electorate staff. Mr Albanese said the one adviser per member of parliament had been the norm until 2017, when the number of staff offered to the crossbench was increased to four, which Labor frontbenchers say is “unfair”.

Independent senator David Pocock says the rule change would harm democracy. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Independent ACT senator David Pocock said the cuts would make it difficult for independents like him to do their jobs properly, and that the government’s argument that they were returning staffing levels to those that predated the Morrison government was “misleading” and would harm democracy.

He also suggested he might not be able to support government bills if he did not have the resources to properly scrutinise the legislation before him.

“As far back as the Rudd/Gillard governments, crossbench senators had a minimum of two parliamentary staff to be able to get across the issues and be able to vote on legislation,” Senator Pocock told ABC Radio.

“Independents have to be across all portfolios, and the Jenkins Review pointed out that staff were overstretched and overworked.

“So we probably need to be looking at the decision and taking it away from just the whims of the Prime Minister of the day and put in place an independent framework that actually decides how many staff do politicians need to actually be able to do their job.”

Mr Albanese said independents would still have more staff than major party backbenchers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says expansions to the Parliamentary Library would help fill the shortfalls caused by the cuts to Independents’ staffing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But, as has been pointed out, backbenchers do not entirely rely on their own staff, given they have the support of the party and other MPs and senators advisers to help them out.

Crossbenchers do not have the same luxury, but Mr Albanese said they would not be left to their own devices.

“They’re not totally on their own. They have access to the Parliamentary Library that we will be increasing support for. They have access to clerks that raft legislation in addition to personal staff,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio.

Senator Pocock said this was “not a great way” to start the new parliamentary term.

“Let’s remember that the government has 481 personal staff to be able to do all this – to look at legislation, to make a decision, to do briefs and talking points. The opposition has just over 100,” he said.

“As an independent you’ve got to be across all these different areas – from health, education, to climate, to housing, and actually make a decision that reflects what your community wants … With one parliamentary staff that’s pretty much impossible.”

Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher says ‘it’s not fair’ that crossbenchers were getting more staff than other parliamentarians. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the government was not trying to put anyone off-side, but she understood there was frustration from a crossbench.

“We’re open to a constructive discussion with the crossbench,” Senator Gallagher said.

“But … we need to have a sustainable staffing arrangement, and it’s just not fair that the crossbench get four additional staff on top of what every other parliamentarian who’s not a minister or a shadow gets.”

Originally published as Independent MPs, Senators ‘can’t do job properly’ with Labor rule change