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

The original push by the Greens, supported by Labor—which lost—was to maintain the status quo at, I think, $52,600, or something close to that. Pauline Hanson had the disgusting plan to reduce it to $29,999, which I said this afternoon is not even worth discussing. The government has come back up a little bit. They started, I think, at $42,000, and they've now come up to $45,000. I'd say again what I mentioned earlier today—that the Treasurer and finance minister both told me that Canberra is about compromise, and that 70 per cent of something is better than 100 per cent of nothing. If they come across to us with this amendment at $50,000, I think a lot more people in this building, as well as students and women trying to repay their student debts, would be a lot happier. I think it's much fairer.

The CHAIR: Senator Hinch, I remind you to refer to senators by their correct title.