Spin doctor numbers growing like topsy, Labor says

The number of media advisers employed by the state government is booming as cutbacks loom in other areas of the state sector, Labor says.

Labor's Josh Willie speaks to the media on the Hobart waterfront on Monday, March 24, 2025.

The number of media advisers employed by the state government is booming as cutbacks loom in other areas of the state sector, Labor says.

But the government says the ranks of ministerial advisers will be subject to even deeper cuts than other agencies.

Shadow Treasurer Josh Willie says the number of Liberal media advisers has jumped from five to 16 since 2016, and their taxpayer funded wages have hit $2 million per year.

A Mercury analysis of routine government staffing disclosures in January found the number of staff in the government media unit had grown from 10 to 17 in the last four years.

The unit’s salary bill was calculated to be somewhere between $1.8m and $2.4m and it boasted a new $4,000 drone.

Labor’s Josh Willie accused the government of letting spin doctors proliferate while cutting back in other parts of the public service.

“That’s 50 per cent more media advisers than the Prime Minister’s office, who have to engage with every media outlet in the country.

“I’d bet nearly all Tasmanians would rather hire teachers, nurses, or police officers before yet another spin doctor for the Premier.

“Since announcing unelected bureaucrats would be responsible for deciding which positions to cut and which to keep, Premier Rockliff has dodged numerous questions as to which positions are exempt, and which are not.

“Will the Premier apply the policy to his own ballooning media office of spin doctors?”

The number of ministerial staffers has grown from 95 to 112 in the last four years.

The salary bill for political appointments such as chiefs of staff, advisers and executive officers has grown from between $11.8m and $13.7m in 2020 to between $14.5m and $18.9m in 2024.

During the same time, the size of the ministry has increased by one.

Minister Jacquie Petrusma. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Liberal Minister Jacquie Petrusma said ministerial staffing numbers were subject to the same hiring freezes of any other department.

“In fact, the aim is to reduce by ten per cent,” she said.

The government aims to cut the size of the overall state sector by six per cent in coming years to trim the budget.

“[Labor] are comparing apples and oranges, because the government’s media office actually supports the Premier and ten ministers, unlike the Prime Minister whose media office only supports him.

“Every one of his ministers actually have their own support, media support team as well.”

A government spomeswoman said “in a 24/7 digital world, Tasmanians are increasingly relying on real-time information across a range of communication and social media platforms, and this requires time and resources.

“In Labor’s last days of government in 2014, they employed 13 people in their communications office.

“Ten years later and with an expanded parliament of 10 additional MPs – the current size is comparable.”

Originally published as Spin doctor numbers growing like topsy, Labor says