Minister Under Pressure for Hiring Speechwriter for $640,000

A professional speechwriter will be paid around $300,000 a year to assist NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, despite there being an existing communications team.

Minister for Government Services and the NDIS Bill Shorten at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 12, 2024. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

A former TV drama scriptwriter will be paid more than half a million dollars over two years to help Labor NDIS Minister Bill Shorten “melt hearts” with his communications.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Julianne Stewart, the speechwriter hired to assist Mr. Shorten, previously assisted Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd (Labor), Julia Gillard (Labor), Tony Abbott (Liberal), and Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal).