'Sorry guys': Hanson attacks number of public holidays, suggesting less
During an appearance on Sunrise earlier today Pauline Hanson made the surprise admission that public holidays need to “cut”.
Senator Hanson had been asked by Samantha Armytage if she believed all public holidays across the Australia should be standardised, however, a seemingly confused Pauline gave a surprise response that didn’t answer the question that she was being asked.
“We all love our public holidays and I agree, but I’m a monarchist but come on, do we need a Queens birthday holiday,” she began during her lengthy answer.
“Do we need Labour Day holiday?”
“Do we need, you know, a show day holiday?“
“Come on, this comes at a cost to some people. Small business who employ just a couple of staff, they’ve got to find this money. I think it’s ridiculous and we need to cut some of there public holidays.”
“Sorry guys.”
She was also invited onto the breakfast news program to discuss with other guest, fellow Senator Darren Hinch, why the ‘big four’ banks have failed to pass on interest rate cuts to customers.
The big four have been under increased scrutiny lately following a string of financial scandals that have dogged the industry in the last decade or so.
As a result the hearings into banks by the House of Representatives economics committee is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's response to demands for a royal commission inquiry into the industry.
Such calls were prompted by many stories of mum and dad investors being fleeced of their savings by dodgy financial advice.
Mr Turnbull fought against any sort of inquiry for months, saying a royal commission would be costly to taxpayers and would take years to solve any perceived problems in the industry.
Liberal senator James Paterson agrees.
"It would put at risk the reputation of our banks as some of the most stable and reliable in the world," he told Sky News on Sunday.
But Mr Turnbull finally succumbed in August after the federal election, announcing an annual hearing of the banks, similar to the twice-yearly appearances of the Reserve Bank governor.
While Labor has representatives in the 10-strong economics committee chaired by Liberal MP David Coleman, it's unlikely to placate their concerns.
Labor MP Shayne Neumann for one does not think it will be good enough.
"How long are we going to have rip-off after rip-off, scandal after scandal, before the federal government takes seriously the public's concerns about what happens in the financial services sector," he told Sky News.
The hearing comes at a time when there are worries about the financial stability of one the world's largest banks, Germany's Deutsche Bank, shaking up global financial markets.
CBA, the largest of the the nation's banks, and its chief executive officer Ian Narev, will be first under the spotlight for three hours of questioning on Tuesday afternoon.
ANZ will appear on Wednesday, while NAB and Westpac will appear separately on Thursday.
News break – October 3
