Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Feeney made reference to the issue of public confidence. Does the government believe that there would be greater public confidence in the process of setting the pay and conditions of members of parliament if there is a process that would involve public submissions and a public hearing? It is my understanding that he does not disagree with that proposition—that there would be greater public confidence in the process if the tribunal undertook, for instance, the public submissions and the public hearing, referring to the evidence that was obtained and heard.