David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

For the benefit of Senator Conroy, part 3A of the act that he talks about establishes a scheme whereby that remunerations, allowances and benefits afforded to members of the Defence Force are to be determined by the minister under section 58B. The minister may make a determination under section 58B in relation to, among other things, remuneration. But if the senator had the vaguest capacity to read a piece of legislation he would know that, under section 58H, if the matter goes before the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal the minister, in 58B, has no role. Of course, given that the shadow minister's performance in managing various projects in the past, it is obvious that he cannot, even after many years in this place, read a simple statute. He is a senator who cannot read the law. If I take you to 58H(14), it simply sets it out. I am happy to further spoonfeed the shadow minister on the fundamentals of the way the system works, but I fear that I will be wasting my time.