Opposition and crossbench MPs in the Victorian upper house, including the North East's Tim Quilty and Tania Maxwell, have put a stop to the government's plan to grant some MPs a pay rise.
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Mr Quilty said the government's bill included a section that would have bumped up the pay packets just before an independent tribunal was introduced to set MP’s salaries.
"The community does not have a particularly high opinion of those who sit in this place. Can I suggest that one of the reasons for this poor opinion comes from dubious moves like this," he told Parliament this week.
"We are all pretty well paid compared to the average voters in our electorates.
"Anyone who thinks they are underpaid is welcome to quit instead of shoving their hands further into the taxpayers pockets."
It was the first vote the government has lost in the upper house since Labor was re-elected in the November election, failing to win support from the Coalition and most crossbench MPs.
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