Albanese says Sally Rugg case not behind $159m budget boost for MPs’ electorate staff

PM cites increased workload for staff of all political stripes while treasurer points to ‘well-publicised court cases’ as motivation

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Anthony Albanese has defended spending $159m to increase MPs’ electorate staff and related travel entitlements as necessary to help MPs of all political stripes serve growing electorates.

The measure, revealed in Tuesday night’s budget, helps the government deal with the fallout of Albanese’s controversial decision to slash independents’ staffing entitlement and complaints of unreasonable workload aired in the now-settled case between independent Monique Ryan and her former chief of staff Sally Rugg.

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