Crossbench Senator Ricky Muir has used his maiden speech to defy critics who say the parliament is “dysfunctional” and lash out at the government’s lack of consultation on key policies.

He is the final senator, of those elected in 2013, to deliver the traditional first speech to parliament.

He said he would prefer to give the address in jeans and a T-shirt or “hard yakka trousers, steel capped boots and a high visibility shirt”, but wore the mandatory suit.

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“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,” he said.

The sole Motoring Enthusiast Party representative told the parliament that the “system is not broken” and that the disconnect between the major parties and the electorate is “why voters are looking for alternatives”.

“There have been statements thrown around such as the senate is dysfunctional and unworkable,” he told parliament.

“Yet, when speaking to many around these halls, it seems pretty much business as usual.

“Perhaps people are getting the senate and the government confused.”

The media-shy senator went on to criticise the government for “fixing the budget by hurting the disadvantaged in a barrage of measures that were mute in the election campaign”.

He singled out the government’s plans to deregulate universities, the now defunct Medicare co-payment proposal and uncertainty in the renewable energy sector.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg, and to add insult to injury it was done with little to no consultation,” he said.

“That doesn’t sound like democracy to me.”

Mr Muir said his journey so far has been “exciting, fast, emotional and intriguing”.

He also addressed the television interview with Channel Seven that left him lost for words and by his own admission hindered his confidence ahead of his entry to parliament.

“Sure I came up pretty bad in the debut interview with Mike Willesee,” he said.

“I was never going to let that bring me down.”

– ABC