By Lucinda Garbutt-Young in Canberra

An unlikely political trio has joined forces to petition the prime minister for more staff, putting aside their usually fractious relationships and views on religion to launch a united campaign.

Independent senator Fatima Payman, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and independent MP Dai Le told journalists on Thursday their unity was a sign the system was “completely broken”.

One Nation has 0.83 staff per parliamentarian, compared to Labor’s 4.09 and the coalition’s 1.47, according to modelling.

Politicians hire their own electorate and personal staff, but the prime minister has ultimate control over staffing allocations.

Senator Payman, who quit the Labor Party in mid-2024 to sit as an independent, has no personal staff. Ms Le has one, following her victory in the historically Labor safe seat of Fowler in 2022.

It is the first time the two senators have shown a united front, usually at odds on fundamental policy.

A major row erupted between the women on the floor of parliament in 2024, when Senator Hanson attempted to have her counterpart investigated for citizenship concerns. Senator Payman called her “vindictive, mean, nasty” as a result.

Pauline Hanson in February said there were no “good” Muslims during a during a media interview, before offering a convoluted apology in which she said “some” Muslims could be good, referring to those who were non-practising.

On Tuesday, Senator Payman called out a “certain Queensland senator” for inciting divisive, hate-filled migration debate.

But none of that seemed to matter on Thursday.

“Australians want to see politicians act in a mature way to put their differences aside when it comes to common causes, and we’re here demanding transparency from this government,” Senator Payman said.

“We have different views on almost everything, but what we have all in common is we’re all women,” she said.

The trio accused Labor of trying to punish them for having dissenting views.

“I have been begging the prime minister to listen to what is happening in my office and to allow me the staff to do my job,” Senator Hanson said.

Mr Albanese saw the “writing on the wall” and was trying to restrict One Nation’s success, following its Secret Harbour by-election victory in the Western Australian state parliament earlier this month, the One Nation leader said.

“I think it’s nasty, and the people are seeing right through this government and through our prime minister. I’m going to keep going with this.”

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