Henderson takes questions from the Q&A crowd

CORANGAMITE federal member Sarah Henderson has made another appearance on the ABC TV’s Q&A program, sparring with fellow panellists about tax, business confidence and Donald Trump.

The Liberal MP – who last appeared on the program in an episode filmed in Geelong in 2014 – sat alongside Australian Conservatives leader (and former Liberal) Cory Bernardi, Shadow Heath Minister Catherine King, The Saturday Paper editor Erik Jensen and comedian Corey White.

Ms Henderson surprised guest host Hamish Macdonald with her support for Mr White’s proposal for subsidised long-term contraception for drug-affected people, describing it as a “very, very powerful idea, providing it’s voluntary”.

“If our focus is on protecting children, then fundamentally, it’s a very powerful notion,” she said.

Regarding the just-announced changes to Sunday penalty rates by the Fair Work Commission, Ms Henderson said many employers would not change their rates of pay and the change gave employers an incentive to open longer.

“I can assure you that in the place where I live, along the Great Ocean Road, many businesses are closed on a Sunday.”

“Can I get you to acknowledge whether or not some people will be worse off working Sunday this weekend, compared with last weekend?” Mr Macdonald asked.

“Well, I hope not,” Ms Henderson replied, which was met with laughter and scoffing from the audience.

Other topics discussed during the episode, filmed at the ABC’s Southbank studios in front of more than 300 people, included Senator David Leyonhjelm’s recent controversial remarks and parliamentary decorum (Ms King described him as an “utter d**k”), changes to foster care (at which Mr White spoke at length about his own experience), whether US President Donald Trump should speak at Parliament House (Ms Henderson said it would be an honour to hear him), and impacts on business confidence.