Actually you are both correct, and here is the explanation! 2016 Senate Calculator Plus Tips on the New Senate Voting System
Can I just vote 1 above the line?
For the last 32 years, a single '1' above the line has been formal, with the ballot paper then taking on the full group preference ticket of the chosen party. The new system has abolished the tickets and now a minimum six preferences is the instruction for completing an above the line vote.
However, with 95% of the electorate having voted with a single '1' for three decades, requiring six preferences had the potential to create a huge increase in informal voting caused by voters not being aware of the new instructions.
To avoid increasing informal voting, a generous 'savings' provision has been included in the act. Any ballot paper with a valid first preference above the line will be 'saved' from being informal. Such a vote will count for the candidates of the chosen party and for no other candidate or party on the ballot paper. A ballot with a valid first preference will be valid for every further preference completed, so a 1,2 is also formal, a 1,2,3 is formal, as is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and so on. http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2016/06/2016-senate-calculators.html
cheers
