SENATOR THE HON MICHAELIA CASH

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE

SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

SENATOR THE HON JAMES MCGRATH

SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE

SHADOW MINISTER FOR URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CITIES

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS

SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR AND GREENS UNITEAGAINST TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRER WORKING CONDITIONS

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In a bizarre but unsurprising move, Labor has today teamed up with Greens to vote down a Bill that would have addressed staff

wellbeing concerns, ensured that parliamentarians were adequately resourced to hold the government to account, and

removed discretionary powers that have been abused by the Prime Minister.

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The decision to vote against this Bill now leaves the door open for real and negative impacts on staff already struggling to meet

the demands of workload pressures as a result of Labor’s unprecedented move to cut staffing allocations for the Coalition and Crossbench.

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The Bill introduced by the Coalition proposed simple changes to the MOPs Act to create clear guidelines on staffing allocations for

the Opposition and Crossbench. It would have set up a fair, balanced and transparent system in place of discretionary powers

given to the Prime Minister that are open to abuse, as has been the case with this egregious Prime Minister in Mr Albanese.

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“The Prime Minister and his Labor government have taken the words ‘vindictive and nasty’ to a whole new level,” said Shadow

Special Minister of State, Senator James McGrath.

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“It is extraordinary that the self-proclaimed Party of the worker has ignored the findings of the recent PWSS review which found

that shadow portfolio staff were struggling to meet the demands of the portfolio or parliamentary work under the current allocations.”

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Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Michaelia Cash said Prime Minister Albanese has broken long standing staffing conventions.

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“Mr Albanese is acting like a medieval king granting castles and land to his favourite noblemen and shunning those out of favour at his court,’’ she said.

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“This Bill was trying to fix this issue but Labor and Greens have scuttled it,’’ Senator Cash said.

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“Staffing is an important part of the democratic process, allowing the Government of the day to do its job and for it to be held to

account by the Opposition, other non-government parties and independents,’’ she said.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:

Christian Camuglia – 0477 671 926

Brett McCarthy – 0427 846 254

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