Derryn Hinch says Malcolm Turnbull ‘shot himself in the foot’ by calling for double dissolution election

DERRYN Hinch — a one-time sensational shock-jock known as the “Human Headline” - says Turnbull called the election to get rid of “eight pesky Senators”, but he’ll now end up with 12.

01/07/2016 Derryn Hinch at Riva Restaurant in St Kilda after winning a senate seat for The Derryn Hinch Justice party. David Geraghty / The Australian.

DERRYN Hinch — a one-time sensational shock-jock — is now promising to listen and a take considered approach to his newest job.

The man known as the “Human Headline” vowed to continue with his justice campaign, calling for the establishment of a national register of sex offenders, but is prepared to negotiate with the government when he heads to Canberra.

Mr Hinch, who as a radio and TV host was twice been jailed for contempt of court and three times convicted of breaching suppression orders, said his first promise as a senator was to “listen”.

“I’ve been a journo for 50 years. I’m no expert. I’ll listen,” he said.

“I’m going to have staff, I’ll have experts, I’ll listen to people and I’m not going to form instant opinions.”

RELATED: HINCH AND HANSON SET FOR SEATS IN THE SENATE

MORE: POLICE TO PROBE ‘MEDISCARE’ CAMPAIGN TEXTS

He said it was clear Malcolm Turnbull has “shot himself in the foot” by forcing an double-dissolution election and was now facing an even more volatile crossbench than before.

“I said way back that Malcolm Turnbull never called this election over union officials. He called it to get rid of eight pesky senators,” he said.

“He shot himself in the foot. Now he’s going to end up with 12.

“To make it worse, of those 12, some of them are people who thought they were in for six years and because of Turnbull [they] got shafted.”

Hinch said yesterday he would prepared to work with, in particular, with South Australian senator Nick Xenophon.

He also hoped to further the cause of pensioners and veterans alongside Jacqui Lambie.

The former 3AW host — who was once married to Academy Award nominated actress Jacki Weaver, said he had a petition with 60,000 names for to establish a national register for paedophiles.

He will also push for a Senate inquiry into the Family Court and child welfare agencies.

The 72-year-old — whose life was famously saved by having a liver transplant — also wants reform to the organ donor register.

““I think I’m the first parliamentarian with a transplant, so I’ll be pushing hard for that living will idea, where you say you want to be on the donor list and your family can’t overrule you.”