New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has sharply criticized an agreement between the Coalition and the Greens to increase the number of taxpayer-funded political staff, describing the move as a significant example of self-interest in politics.

The Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal (PRT) recommended in July that each member of the Legislative Assembly be entitled to four staff members—three dedicated to their electorate offices—and that Legislative Council members receive an additional second staffer starting from the 2027 state election. The tribunal, which advises the government on parliamentary salaries, entitlements, and staffing, cited increased workloads due to the continuous news cycle, social media demands, and the necessity for ongoing training, including mental health and artificial intelligence awareness.

While the Labor Party, under Minns’ leadership, has agreed to a modest 3 percent basic salary increase for parliamentarians—aligned with public service raises—they rejected the broader staffing expansion. Minns accused the Liberals and Greens of “colluding” to secure an additional 12 political staff positions, warning that the recurrent annual costs would escalate into the millions and significantly increase accommodation expenses for parliament.

The Premier highlighted that Legislative Council member offices were originally designed to house only a single staffer. Although the PRT noted during site visits that this limit was not explicitly evident, meeting the proposed staffing levels could require constructing a new parliamentary annex or leasing external office space to accommodate the extra employees.

Minns framed the timing as particularly insensitive amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, questioning the public demand for increased political staffing and calling the proposal "tone deaf." He further pointed to Liberal upper house leader Damien Tudehope, who recently appeared before an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry into alleged electoral law breaches and branch stacking. While Tudehope has not been named or accused of wrongdoing, Minns suggested the staffing increase would directly benefit the Liberal leader.

Describing the staffing expansion as an "underhand political deal," Minns pledged to oppose it in the Legislative Council and vowed to prioritize frontline services ahead of parliamentary staff increases. He announced his intention to campaign for additional child safety officers rather than more political employees, emphasizing public skepticism toward politicians seen as pursuing self-serving agendas.