Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Can I suggest that Senator Brown avail himself of his glass of water, because it might stop him from interjecting consistently. I know he is getting excited about his trip to the United States, with potentially some assistance from the taxpayer. I simply repeat: it would be a very arrogant Senate to say that we as a Senate know better than the Remuneration Tribunal, as it relates to another house of this parliament, the entitlements of House of Representatives members. If these people opposite had their way they would say, ‘We know better what is needed for the House of Representatives members than the independent Remuneration Tribunal.’

I have heard about breathtaking arrogance, but this really is coming to a limit. I suggest to senators opposite that they do take a deep breath, consider the precedent they would be seeking to set by overruling the Remuneration Tribunal and the Senate unilaterally then determining what the House of Representatives members should be entitled to. Whilst the Remuneration Tribunal does the excellent job that it does, we as a government will support their determination by voting against this disallowance motion.