Hanson attacks ‘hypocrite’ MPs over pay rise

Pauline Hanson has attacked MPs for accepting pay rises while voting against tax cuts for everyday Australians.

Senator Pauline Hanson: ‘Knock back your pay rises’. Picture: Kym Smith.

Pauline Hanson has attacked Labor and Greens MPs for accepting pay rises while voting against tax cuts for everyday Australians, branding them “hypocrites”.

In a growing war of words with Labor, Senator Hanson demanded Bill Shorten hand back his $7000 pay rise — determined by the Remuneration Tribunal last week — if he wanted to deny tax cuts to coalminers and other workers in dangerous jobs.

“How can Labor and the Greens deny these tax cuts to hundreds of thousands of hard-working Australians on taxable incomes from $120,000 up to $200,000 when they have ­accepted pay rises in excess of 6 per cent in recent times,” Senator Hanson said.

“I challenge Labor to set an example and reject the 2 per cent pay rise awarded by the Remuneration Tribunal last week. Knock back your pay rise.”

Last night she threw down the gauntlet to all MPs, telling Steve Price on 2GB that she would ­donate her $4000 pay rise to the Young Veterans association in Queensland. “I’m challenging every other member of parliament to commit their $4000 pay ­increase to a charity of their choice,” she said.

Her comments in the Senate were seen as an expression of support for government moves to cut income tax.

Mr Shorten accused Senator Hanson of doing the government’s bidding, forgetting those who had elected her.

“Pauline, remember who voted for you. You’re meant to be this champion of Queensland battlers,” he said.

“Please stop just doing everything the Liberals ask of you and instead, let’s just stand up for Queensland and stand up for 1.9 million Queenslanders who are better off under our plan.”

Federal politicians, whose base salaries rise to $207,100 from next month, will receive the maximum available tax cut under the government’s tax plan, according to the government’s tax-relief calculator.

This includes $4050 over two years for stage two, and $7225 a year from 2024-25.

Senator Hanson last year sought to block politicians’ pay rises.

The One Nation leader was ­accused of having “no idea” about the tax package, after claiming she would miss out on a tax cut under the government’s plan.

“The tax cuts are going to be up to $200,000. I am a very fortunate Australian to be earning more than $200,000. I’m paying tax at 45c in the dollar on that. I’m not getting tax relief,” she told the Senate.

In fact, Senator Hanson would save $11,815 by 2023-24 if she helped to pass the package, and $7225 a year after that.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said Senator Hanson “appears to misunderstand how the Australian tax system works”.

“By voting for stage three she has voted for tax relief for herself and for every other high-income Australian,” he said.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young also hit out at the One ­Nation leader, who had accused her of failing to understand the package.

“She either has no idea what on earth she is voting on, or she is lying to the Australian people and she is misleading the Senate,” the Greens senator said.