This is a political move to consolidate power in the two-party system and is designed to ultimately fend off potential independent challengers to the Labor Party at the next election by making current independents less effective. The casualties will be good government,collaboration and better policy.
Labor can see the two-party system ailing. Arecord number of people voted for minor parties and independents at the recent federal election. This has clearly sent a shock through senior leadership of both major parties.
The victory of Dai Le in Fowler – defeating a former NSW premier in Kristina Keneally – would have sent a particularly potent message to the Labor Party.
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Senior government ministers are rationalising the staffing shift as being about equity between backbenchers and crossbenchers. This is not a fair comparison. The reason crossbenchers are afforded more staff than a government backbencher is because they do not have the party machine behind them.
For example,backbenchers do not have to analyse the several hundred pieces of legislation that come before parliament. They get told where and when to vote by an electronic pager.
An independent must examine each bill – and the dozens of amendments – on their merits,consult widely with stakeholders and the community to define a position that enhances the legislation and outcomes for the nation. All while handling time-sensitive media inquiries.