The Federal Parliament had recently passed the proposed amendments to the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980, i.e an across-the-board 10% increase in MP's and ministerial remuneration. The increase would temporarily relieve some of the financial woes faced by members of Parliament but does not constitute a long-term solution.

The entire exercise shows that the government lacks imagination. The government appears not to have a clue as to how to improve the general performance of Parliament and its honourable members.