Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 2:55:41 to 3:04:24
Senator Payman questions the delay in her staffing request, highlighting psychosocial hazards and burnout while comparing her situation to other independent members.
Topics: Workplace culture, Health, Integrity
Speakers: Senator Fatima Payman, Senator The Hon Don Farrell, Speaker 1, Unknown Speaker, Simon Newnham
I'll start from the top because it comes, you know, the questions around fair and what's equitable. Um Minister, nearly 2 years ago, 23 months ago to be exact. You were asked questions about personal staffing allocations by former Senator Birmingham. Um you said then to my knowledge a request was made by Senator Payman and at least one other senator for additional staff. Again to the best of my knowledge the prime minister is considering that application. Is there any legal requirement for the prime minister to process these requests in a fair or
don't think there's any legal obligation. Senator uh payment. Um but
>> sorry I was that there isn't a legal obligation.
>> I don't think I I'll get that um checked um for you hopefully while we're sitting here. Um but I'm not aware of a legal obligation to I mean he [clears throat] he has the legal power to make the determinations. but I don't think there's a legal obligation on him to do it. So, he's got the power. Uh, but he doesn't have to exercise that power is is the way I >> I understand it, but I'll unless there's somebody
>> I mean, I think that we would agree with that, Senator. >> The prime minister has the authority to
make his discretion,
>> right? Um, but there's no um requirement under the legislation the way you
phrased it. So, has my pro uh request been processed by the prime minister?
>> I don't believe so. Senator Payman.
>> Do we know why? Um especially since it's been 2 years and nothing's happened. Um can we explain why this could be?
>> Um I Well, it's an issue for the prime minister. I'm happy to raise it with him again and find out what his current disposition is and come back to you.
>> I've [clears throat] been waiting for a while, Minister, and I've raised this on multiple occasions to you as the special minister of state,
>> and I'm happy to raise it with the prime minister of
>> I since you were asked about this, requests were processed for member for Bradfield, who was elected in 2025, uh Senator Waters upon her becoming leader of the Greens, and Senator Shoebridge, who became leader of the Greens less than a month ago and had determinations made within a fortnight. So, why are some applications being processed in just 2 weeks and others still waiting acknowledgement after 2 years?
>> Um, that that is a question only the prime minister could answer, but I'm happy to inquire.
>> Surely there's got to be processes.
Um well I'm I'm I'm sure the prime minister has as he always does gives it due consideration and um you know at this point has not made a decision to allocate um additional staff to yourself but I'm happy to go back to him and ask him um what his current uh [clears throat] you know thinking on it is and to come back
to you. Thank you. Um, Miss uh, Nichollet Bullah, the member for Bradfield was elected in 2025. Why is she, apart from member for Fowler, the only independent in the House of Representatives with one adviser while
>> Uh, look, I don't specifically know the answer to that question, uh, Senator Fman, but I will inquire and, uh, attempt to come back to you with an
uh Senator Thorpe, Senator Tur, former Senator Van and the member for Kair all received personal staffing allocations after leaving the political parties under whose banner they were elected. Has the prime minister refused to make a decision on my request because unlike all the other defectors I defected from the Labor Party?
>> Uh I will have to ask.
>> Am I being [clears throat] am I being made an example of?
>> Um I'll have to ask him that question and
>> Oh, please do. And I'm glad this is on the record because unlike our private conversations, we can come back to this. Uh
>> now what I um be be clear about this, Senator Payman. What I say privately is what I say publicly. I don't have
>> but I've been waiting for a while, Minister. And you were supposed to talk to the prime minister.
>> Yes. And
>> last year
>> I have
>> before I went on Matt.
>> I have done so. Um Senator Payman uh but
>> Oh, so you have spoken to him he say?
>> Well, he hasn't yet given a response um to your request. >> Um but I'm happy to I'm happy to bigger.
>> Well, has has the prime minister given any reasons? Surely you've raised it on
>> No, he hasn't hasn't given me um reasons but um you know you've raised it again. Um,
>> I've been raising it for 2 years >> and the psychosocial hazards that are impact uh that are imposed on my staff because >> I'm expected and my staff are expected to do the job of an office that has seven full-timers. So, I don't know how the same job, same pay thing that Labour keeps bragging about uh applies to my team where my chief of staff is being paid as an electorate officer. C wage, but she's expected to do more work than other independent senators office chief of staffs. So, please raise this with the prime minister because if he cares so much about the the welfare and well-being of people who work in this building, then I implore you and the prime minister to please look into the fact that my staff are burning out. They can't take this any longer. And is the prime minister waiting for something like what happened to Dr. Helen Haines to occur to my office, to me, for him to take our request
>> Uh, look, I I personally think that's an outrageous suggestion, Senator Payman.
>> Yeah, I I can't believe that I'm saying that or making that suggestion because
taking a moment to think about um to think about those kind of accusations while we rotate the call might be a suggest
>> that um Senator Payman go further and withdraw that suggestion about the prime minister's motivation because it's absolutely
>> I would love to have a response from the prime minister and then I'll withdraw
it. I've said, well, that's not what I'm requesting. I'm requesting that you
that was that was quite an outrageous statement. I would ask you to withdraw it. I appreciate your frustration,
>> but I'm not sure. >> I haven't made any >> accusation. >> I think you just did. Uh it wasn't it I mean you can take it as an accusation minister but once you've >> discussed it with the prime minister and if he thinks that's an accusation then I'll withdraw it.
>> Well it'll be too late by then because when this session is over then it's too late for you to withdraw.
>> I've been waiting 2 years >> chair and I am tired of looking in my staff's eyes and saying you just have to deal with this because the prime minister is petty and is taking it out
on me. All right, Senator Payman.
>> All right. And
>> this is this is on parliamentary accusations that you're throwing around and I would ask you to have a
>> Well, perhaps you can raise with the
>> I I would be delighted to raise it with the president. Yes. Thank you. >> But such accusations are not within the bounds of parliamentary behavior. I appreciate your frustration. I really do. um making come to this >> making those kind of accusations against another member of the parliament >> is is not where we're at. We we we should be better than that.
>> You'd expect that.
>> And we thought particularly on a day like today,
>> yeah,
>> we should all be better than that.
>> Yeah, absolutely. I agree.
>> But you're not going to be.
>> The leader of this country needs to do