Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

I think this is a deal cooked up by the major parties to try to make legal a dirty mess that they created last year. On 10 August last year the AEC had the result of the Victorian section 282 recount: (1) Fifield, (2) Carr, (3) Di Natale, (4) McKenzie, (5) Conroy, (6) Hinch. That was under what was called the Bob Hawke line of fairness approach. When that came up, that wasn't good enough. With no disrespect, Mr President, you were the person who got No. 6 with the deal done with the Labor Party down in Victoria. In New South Wales it was Senator Rhiannon who got the shaft, and Senator O'Neill, for the Labor Party, got there. It's a stitch-up by the major parties.

I totally support Senator Martin. It could happen to any crossbencher at any time. I tried to protest against this last year, but we didn't have the numbers—we still don't have the numbers. I think it's a rotten deal and it's unfair. I got six years. Take me out of it, because the next person— (Time expired)