Some backbenchers are more equal than others
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Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Population Policy and Housing Affordability, Tim Smith
Daniel Andrews has confirmed he is playing favourites among his backbench by giving Marsha Thompson special privileges.
In Question Time, the Premier suggested that Marsha Thompson received a 36th floor retirement suite in the Department of Economic Development because she is a former minister, having left office during the Bracks government in 2006.
This new precedent will come as an interesting development to the three former Andrews government ministers currently sitting on the backbench.
Giving Marsha Thompson a ministerial office as well as overseas travel with the Premier is not only unjustifiable and costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, it also smacks of cronyism and factional pay backs.
Media contact: James Duncan 0457 758 018 james.duncan@opposition.vic.gov.au