This letter published in The Sun (Melbourne), December 7th, over the name of "H.G. Barnard" Greensborough (Melbourne suburb):
"The most frequently used justification for a pay rise for politicians is that they work long hours. "Apart from the fact they know this before they enter politics, and that there are countless aspirants seeking to replace them, one is entitled to ask how productive these long hours are. "How much of this time is spent in creative thinking as against party work and holding on to one's seat or position in the hierarchy? "Most of our parliamentarians are simply parts of a numbers system who are required to vote according to party lines. "There is no way of evaluating the MP's hours on the job as there is that of the artisan or executive, because their skill level is virtually impossible to ascertain. "They should present a case based on what good they have achieved during their time in office, as the taxpayers are entitled to wonder where their labors have led the country. "Were their pay rate to be assessed on their level of success they would probably go hungry."
