Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025

The majority voted against a motion to pass the bill in the Senate. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a third time.

What does the bill do?

According to the explanatory memorandum, which is a document prepared by the parties introducing the bill (Liberal Party, United Australia Party, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party and Australia's Voice):

This Bill amends the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 to place statutory minimum staffing guarantees for non-government parliamentarians and to remove the power of the executive to reduce those minima by later determination.

This Bill ensures that all members of Parliament—regardless of political affiliation—have the basic staffing support necessary to do their job, and provides for minimum staffing entitlements in three categories.

First, it provides that Opposition parties will be entitled to at least 110 personal staff (non‑ministerial) or 22 per cent of the Government’s allocation, whichever is greater. This recognises the vital role of the Opposition in holding the Government to account. It also ensures that the proportion of senior staff available to the Opposition reflects that of the Government’s own staffing structure.

Second, the Bill provides that a non‑government party with 8 or more parliamentarians must be allocated at least 25 personal staff, or 5 per cent of the Government’s total allocation, whichever is greater.

Third, the Bill guarantees that independent parliamentarians and parliamentarians who are members of minority parties—where the party has fewer than 8 parliamentarians—must receive at least three personal staff, including one classified as a Senior Adviser.

The Bill also clarifies that the Prime Minister cannot reduce these minimum entitlements through determinations under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 , but may increase them.