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

This is a question both to Senator Fifield and to the minister. Given the proposed new powers of the tribunal—which from my point of view, in terms of their accountability provisions, are obviously welcome—what is the position of the government and the opposition in relation to making submissions to the tribunal with respect to the new powers it will have to roll in components of a member of parliament's entitlements into the overall salary package?

For instance, could Senator Fifield indicate the approach the coalition will take in its dealings with the tribunal in relation to these matters. Presumably, there will be some submissions, one way or the other, as to the tribunal's new powers and in terms of its deliberations.