Labor has taken issue with the appointment of 14 Liberal and National party members and staffers to a key tribunal.
On Thursday, the government announced 86 appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal just as parliament rose for the pre-budget break.
Among the appointees were former Liberal senator Stephen Parry, ex-Nationals MP De-Anne Kelly and former Liberal MP Bob Baldwin.
Other new AAT members include advisers to prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Victorian premier Jeff Kennett and former federal minister Alexander Downer.
"The government has a shameful record on stacking the AAT with Liberal donors, former MPs, former staffers and mates - but it has outdone itself today," shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said in a statement.
Full-time senior AAT members are paid over $380,000 a year and junior members are paid at least $190,000.
Attorney-General Christian Porter said there had been a significant increase in the number of applications lodged with the AAT.
"These appointments will provide the tribunal with more resources to undertake the important function of conducting merits review of government decisions," he said.
