Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It is always hard to defend parliamentary entitlements and, quite frankly, when you go for the cheap line, you will probably get a good run out of that, but I do not think you are very serious. As you know, the previous government moved to close the old superannuation scheme—there was bipartisan support for that—and introduced a new superannuation arrangement which applies to new members. As in all other cases in Australia, when the scheme is ended, people on the old arrangements are allowed to remain on those arrangements. That is a principle that was applied throughout Australia on the closure of schemes. Senator Sherry is much more expert in this than me. Those same rules were applied when the decision was taken in relation to the old parliamentary superannuation scheme. All new members go on to the new arrangements. The senator would be aware of that and, as I said, I think the comments were a bit over the top.