'Fog of unreality' hangs over Canberra as political staffers get $36m boost

Buried in the government's mid-year financial update is confirmation that an additional $36 million will be spent on political staffers.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson and her press secretary James Ashby arrive at a press conference at Parliament House (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Source: AAP

Funding for 33 additional staffers to mind Australia’s federal politicians will be made available this year, despite the government’s pleas to Labor and the crossbench of the importance of budget savings.

According to the Mid-Year Economic and Financial Outlook (MYEFO), the government will provide an extra $35.8 million over the forward estimates, at almost $10 million per year, to "increase the personal staffing allocations to crossbench, opposition, Greens and Government Parliamentarians by a total of 33 positions and to change the classification profile of some existing positions”.

The MYEFO papers state that this extra spending "will allow Parliamentarians to more effectively manage their workload and represent the interests of their constituents".

The additional funding comes despite the fiscal challenge that stands between the budget and a surplus.

Treasurer Scott Morrison sought to pressure his political opponents into agreeing to measures that would improve the budget on Monday, following the release of MYEFO.

“(MYEFO) reminds us of the need to clear any fog of unreality about the scale of the fiscal and economic challenges we face as a nation and the need for partners in the parliament to support government efforts to restore the budget to balance,” he said.

$13 billion worth of budget repair measures remain unlegislated given Labor and the crossbench remain reluctant to allow unpopular measures passing.

The government had increased the number of staffers working for ministers from 425 to 438 between May and October. Between May and November, the Labor staffer headcount grew by six to 95, and the Greens increased by four to 17.

Under a formula devised under the Howard government, the opposition receives 21 per cent of the government’s staffer headcount without having to justify a need for them.

The government is spending $240 million on political staffers this year.

It will also provide $8.1 million over four years from 2016-17 to provide a third staffed electorate office for electorates larger than 350,000 square kilometres.