Ricky Muir makes inaugural Parliament speech

Revhead senator Ricky Muir has finally given his inaugural speech in Parliament, warning the Government not to reform voting rules and speaking of the difficulties of living on a meagre income.

The 34-year-old from Denison, in Gippsland, who was elected on a record low primary vote of just 0.51 per cent, has waited eight months before delivering his first speech to the Senate.

As wife Kerrie-Anne and their five children watched from the public gallery, an emotional Senator Muir slammed the Federal Government for broken election pledges on Medicare reform and education and for its Budget cuts that hurt the disadvantaged. And he said any senator who thought a $20-a-week rise in the cost of living was "only a packet of cigarettes" was "not living in the real world".

Cars don't hoon - just the idiots behind the wheel

Senator Muir also defended workers' rights to penalty rates, and said working-class Australians were "sick to death" of "working their life away" for little gain.

Reinforcing his commitment to road safety and driver education, he said "cars don't hoon - just the idiots behind the wheel".

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And he described his toughest but proudest moment in the Senate so far as his vote on legislation that prevented 31 children and their families being returned to asylum seeker detention on Nauru.

Senator Muir is one of eight crossbenchers who share the balance of power in the Senate.

I would be far more comfortable standing before you all in jeans and a T-shirt

He disputed that this makeup had made the Senate "dysfunctional and unworkable", accusing those critics of "getting the Senate and the Government confused".

Senator Muir recalled his life on unemployment benefits, and described his election to federal Parliament as "exciting, fast, emotional and intriguing".

The senator said that, before being elected, he had never aspired to wear a suit.

The attire that represents a working-class background, which I am proud of

"Today I would be far more comfortable standing before you all in jeans and a T-shirt, or perhaps the working attire which I have worn for the majority of my working life - Hard Yakka trousers, steel-capped boots and a high-visibility shirt," Senator Muir said.

"The attire that represents a working-class background, which I am proud of. I would be more comfortable in that attire, because that is who I am."