Pay us! Senators want compensation for their work
Published:Saturday | March 26, 2011 | 12:00 AM
AT LEAST two senators say the time has come for legislators in the Upper House to be paid.
During the debate on the National Insurance (Validation Act) yesterday, Opposition Senator Navel Clarke said despite suggestions that senators be paid a salary, no such decision has been made.
"Up to now, we have not received anything," Clarke said.
He added: "I am not going to hold my breath that I will receive a pension at anytime after my time is finished."
Senators receive a stipend of $17,000 when they attend sittings of the Senate or committee meetings
Dorothy Lightbourne, leader of government business, who has been in the Senate since 1984 - missing the period 1989-1994 - said senators would not be able to benefit financially when they retire.
"I woke up one day and said, 'I will not have a pension because we are not paid'," Lightbourne said.