Hanson, Payman, Le attack Albanese government over staffing inequality

Three MPs demanded the Prime Minister give them fair staffing resources.

The three MPs held a press conference together demanding fair staffing. Payman left Labor over Palestine and has no personal staff.

Other independents David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe each have two. One Nation doubled its Senate seats at the 2025 election from two to four but got no extra staff.

After winning the Farrer byelection, One Nation now has six MPs but only five staff total. Le, an independent in the Labor seat of Fowler, has just one staffer.

Hanson said she had been asking the Prime Minister for a year for resources. Le noted there are no published rules, no explanation, and no appeals process for staffing decisions.

2 to 4: One Nation Senate seats gained
6: One Nation total MPs
5: One Nation total staff
0: Payman personal staff

Why it mattersFair staffing helps MPs serve their voters. Rules and transparency matter more than the Prime Minister's personal choice.

AustraliaAustralian MPs outside the government party have less capacity to support their electorates and respond to constituent concerns, weakening parliamentary representation across the country.

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Geoscience Australia forms First Nations advisory committee

Geoscience Australia has appointed its first Indigenous advisory group. It will shape the agency's work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Why it mattersFederal agencies rarely give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples formal power to make decisions. This sets an example for others to follow. It gives First Nations communities real input on how their Country is studied and managed.