Frontbencher Bill Shorten says he has nothing to do with negotiating the contracts of departmental speechwriters, denying any link to an employee's $600,000 contract to provide speeches across his portfolios.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has denied anything to do with one of his speechwriters receiving a $600,000 contract over two years.
While ministers employ their own communications staff, it is commonplace for them to also borrow from departmentsFirst of all, I think that the hiring of a speechwriter was done by Services Australia. I had no idea what the payment was," Mr Shorten told Channel Nine."The point about it is the person involved who's a speechwriter does a very good job. I'm not responsible for negotiating a contract.
Mr Bowen said the department communicates with millions of people on a daily basis and its communications team was "pretty damn important". "Bill Shorten will no doubt have a great speech when he gets there, from his $600,000 speechwriter," Senator Birmingham said.Could you afford Tim Tams at $11.70? Locals in this remote town don't have a choice
Speechwriter Senate Estimates Services Australia
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