An independent Victorian MP has admitted employing her son, daughter and niece as electorate staff, but blamed trust issues and work demands for the appointments.
Catherine Cumming, who was elected at last year's state election to represent the Western Metropolitan Region in the state's Upper House, said her situation should prompt new rules that ban Victorian politicians from hiring family members.
"I'm glad that we're having this conversation because it does have to change," Ms Cumming said.
"If this doesn't meet community expectations then things need to change.
"If I'm the one who's invoking that change, excellent."
Appointments failed 'the pub test': Opposition
In December, Ms Cumming employed her niece and a longtime friend to work in her Seddon office as full-time staff, while also employing another electorate officer on a part-time basis.
But she said a sudden staff shortage in May forced her into hiring six casual staff members as a "stopgap" measure, including her 19-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, who is still in high school.
"I have hired people who I trust and who are capable of doing the job," Ms Cumming said.
She said her son worked fewer than 10 hours a week and her daughter only worked about half a day each week.
Ms Cumming said she knew a "handful" of politicians who had also hired friends and family members, but she refused to name them.
"That's not how I roll," she said.
"I've been targeted because of politics."
"If the Liberal Party want to tweet about me or get on social media acting like I've done something wrong, I think they should get their house in order."
Victorian Opposition frontbencher Tim Smith said Ms Cumming's appointments were "unacceptable" and failed "the pub test".
"The parliament and the people of Victoria are not an ATM for the Cumming family," Mr Smith said.
"It beggars belief that she thought it was appropriate to employ both her kids, her niece and their mates."
He said changing laws to prohibit family members from working for MPs had "merit".
Mr Smith admitted his mother worked as a volunteer in his office for a short period and said he was unaware of other MPs hiring family members.
Federal politicians are already prohibited from hiring family members or partners, although they are allowed to hire family members of other MPs or senators.
Ms Cumming said the community would be better served if parliamentary services appointed electorate officers, because they would then be impartial and apolitical.
"I wish as a Member of Parliament that my office … had electoral officer staff directly employed by parliamentary services," she said.
"That I, as a Member of Parliament, didn't have to manage the staff in my office."
Ms Cumming was elected as a member of Derryn Hinch's Justice Party, but quit the party soon after a spat about who would lead the Victorian team.
