PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS 30 June 1978
More Staff for opposition
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced today that the
Government had decided to increase by 10 to 44 the size of
the pool of staff available to assist the Opposition. He
has written to the Acting Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bowen,
informing him of this decision.
Mr Fraser said that, in coming to this decision, the Government
had given co-sderation both to the Remuneration Tribunal's
1978 Review and to submissions received relating to the
problems beizia faced by both Government and opposition party
committees 1-carrying out their Parliamentary duties without
staffing ass--stance.
In regard to that aspect of the Remuneration's Tribunal's
Review relating to staff for shadow ministers, the Government
had the view that these should be understood as being
recommendatory. It noted the established procedure whereby
the Government of the day has the responsibility of determining
the numbers and classifications of staff for the Opposition.
The question of salary levels for electorate secretaries and
-electorate or legislative assistants, also dealt with in the
Review, was a matter for the Public Service Board, since
these staff are employed under the Public Service Act, and
the Board has the matter under consideration. The continued
provision of such staff to Senators and Members was, of course,
not in question.
As is already the case, it will be for the Leader of the
opposition to decide how the total staff available to the
opposition is to be allocated, including shadow ministers
and party committees.
Mr Fraser said that the Government proposes to provide five
staff to service the Government party committees.
" The decision to significantly increase the Opposition's staff
entitlements will be seen as generous in ' the light of the
difficult budgetary outlook, and as a contribution to the
effective f-' unctioning of Parliamentary democracy," Mr Fraser said.