Michael Sukkar MP

LABOR’S $620,000 SPIN SPEND

THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP
Shadow Minister for Social Services
Shadow Minister for NDIS
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Homelessness

THE HON PAUL FLETCHER MP
Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts
Manager of Opposition Business

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, 3 June 2024

LABOR’S $620,000 SPIN SPEND

The Albanese Labor Government continues to waste taxpayers’ money, with revelations made during a Senate Estimates hearing that Services Australia is spending $620,000 over two years to fund a personal speechwriter for Government Services Minister Bill Shorten.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said the funding is a blatant waste of money amid a cost-of-living crisis.

“Australians are enduring skyrocketing call wait times and slow payment processing times at Services Australia. Yet Labor is more concerned about spin than improving its performance,” Mr Fletcher said.

“How a speechwriter can earn more than an MP or Senator is bizarre and makes no sense. Bill Shorten is treating the public like fools.

“Labor needs to get its act together and prioritise struggling families over its personal public relations.”

This is all while Bill Shorten, who also has the NDIS portfolio, is making cuts to plans after promising he wouldn’t, and claimed the Scheme was sustainable before the election.

Shadow NDIS Minister Michael Sukkar said: “Plan review wait times have doubled, NDIS participants are nervous about cuts and changes being made to their plans and Labor has failed to consult with them prior to releasing new legislation.

“Vulnerable NDIS participants deserve a Minister who is focused on developing meaningful change to the NDIS, not one who is willing to spend an exorbitant amount of time and money on his spin,” Mr Sukkar said.

ENDS