NSW crossbenchers to win from selections for committee roles

Rod Roberts was picked for a plum parliamentary role one week after Chris Minns declared he would not support “any One Nation person for any position inside the Legislative Council”. But he’s not the only crossbencher in for a payrise.

Almost every crossbencher in the NSW upper house is set to get a $20,000 pay rise by taking on powerful positions chairing parliamentary committees.

It comes amid claims from the Opposition that Labor has struck dodgy deals to support its political enemies for plum roles.

One Nation MP Rod Roberts was elected as Deputy President of the upper house on Tuesday, a job which comes with perks including a salary boost worth $86,000 per-year.

Labor supported Mr Roberts for the role, despite Premier Chris Minns declaring just one week ago that the government would not support “any One Nation person for any position inside the Legislative Council”.

The Deputy President runs the chamber while MPs are debating amendments to bills, and does not vote.

NSW One Nation MP Rod Roberts has accepted a job that comes with a tidy raise.

With Nationals MP Ben Franklin as President and Mr Roberts as his deputy, Labor has gained a numbers advantage during every vote in the upper house.

Mr Minns yesterday denied his party had sold out its principles to get an extra vote in the chamber.

He said Mr Roberts – who was nominated by Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst – was “unanimously supported by all political parties in the Legislative Council”.

Chris Minns downplayed an apparent Labor backflip on the Upper House deputy president role. Picture NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

He attempted to play down Labor’s backflip in supporting a One Nation MP for the role.

“The ins and outs of democracy in the Upper House take many twists and turns,” he said.

Ms Hurst insisted she had not done any deals with Labor. She said Mr Roberts has experience as an Assistant President and “demonstrated his ability to remain fair, reasonable and respectful”.

However Labor has already courted crossbenchers including Ms Hurst and the Greens for powerful roles chairing parliamentary committees.

Upper House committees have the power to start inquiries, like the probe into how John Barilaro was offered a government trade role in New York.

Labor’s Upper House Leader Penny Sharpe refused to reveal details of who she had spoke to about upper house roles when asked in parliament. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Hurst is expected to be elected chair of a new ommittee covering Local Government issues, which includes regulations around pets.

Greens MPs are expected to chair four committees. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs are expected to chair two. Legalise Cannabis MP Jeremy Buckingham is expected to chair a committee, as is Liberal Democrat John Ruddick.

Committee chairs earn an extra $20,000 on top of their base parliamentary salary.

Coalition sources believe the Opposition will be blocked from chairing any committees, in a move Liberal sources claim is a bid from Labor to avoid scrutiny.

Labor sources denied those accusations last night.

Earlier, Mr Minns refused to say what discussions – if any – Labor had entered into regarding plum Upper House roles.