Hanson accuses Albanese of offering One Nation MP extra staff funding

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been accused by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson of trying to influence her party by offering MP David Farley funding for an additional staff member. Farley declined the offer, which Hanson says raises concerns about how the government allocates taxpayer-funded parliamentary resources.

The package was worth $200,000 for a staff salary. Hanson has sought minor party status for One Nation, which she says would increase its staffing allocation from four to nine, but claims Albanese has not formally responded. Farley, elected in a May by-election, is the only crossbench MP without extra staff; the dispute follows Albanese’s approval of 15 staffers for the Greens.