Reduced staffing levels for crossbench and independent federal MPs has been defended as a "sensible arrangement" by a member of federal cabinet.
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The new Labor government has come under fire after crossbench MPs were told they would only be allocated one parliamentary advisor during the next term, as opposed to four under arrangements by the previous government.
Independent and minor party MPs had criticised the decision by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying they would be unable to provide proper scrutiny to legislation.
However Special Minister of State Don Farrell said the move was necessary.
"The issue did get out of hand under previous governments. The prime minister has proposed a sensible arrangement," he told Sky News on Tuesday.
"We've restored it to what is a fair and reasonable outcome."
The prime minister wrote to crossbench MPs and senators on Friday informing them of the decision.
Mr Albanese said crossbenchers would receive one parliamentary adviser, in addition to four staff for electorate offices.
Newly elected independents including Allegra Spender and Kylea Tink said they were waiting to discuss the issue with the prime minister once he returned from the NATO summit in Europe.
Senator Farrell said he was looking forward to having talks with the crossbench about the allocations, highlighting an imbalance which favoured them under current arrangements.
"The idea that you have an MP in one seat with four staff, (and) the adjoining seat eight staff, just depending on whether they're government or teal, that's an unacceptable position," he said.
Australian Associated Press
