it really isn't an issue logco. Ms Stewart's rate of pay was valued against her career extending over 15 years serving various PMs including Abbott, Turnbull and Alan Joyce. her work made Shorten, as well as Joyce, Abbott, Rudd and Gillard sound far more intelligent and informed than they really are/were.
and yes, its Services Aus who screens, employs and determines the wages of staffers.
imo this is an artificial barrier set up to protect ministers from such claims. ministers used to be responsible for employing their staffers.
