Federal politicians are set to receive their largest salary increase in almost ten years of 4 per cent on Thursday, outpacing Australia’s wage price index which, over the past year, went up by 3.6 per cent.
This translates to an increase in the base salary for backbench MPs from $217,000 to $225,680.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s salary will get a massive boost, rising from $564,200 to $586,768, while opposition leader Peter Dutton’s salary will go up from $401,450 to $417,508.
Mr Albanese’s pay will rise by $1,880 a month to $48,897, meaning he earns far more every month than someone on Australia’s minimum wage earns in a year, which is $42,278.
The Remuneration Tribunal, which determines the pay and entitlements of public office holders, said the decision followed several ‘conservative’ pay reviews in recent years.
Anthony Albanese’s salary will get a massive boost, rising from $564,200 to $586,768. The Prime Minister is pictured left (with his partner Jodie Haydon) and right
‘When determining remuneration for the broad spectrum of public offices within its jurisdiction,’ the tribunal said in a statement.
‘The tribunal’s primary focus is to provide competitive and equitable remuneration that is appropriate to the responsibilities and experience required of the roles, and that is sufficient to attract and retain people of calibre …
‘In setting remuneration, the tribunal continues to set rates below those of the private sector in recognition of the public service being provided by the officeholders.’
The 4 per cent increase comes as millions of Australians struggle with cost of living increases in everything from food to petrol to power to rent and mortgages.
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Some people are so despairing of Australia’s cost of living crisis that they’ve been posting videos to social media about it.
‘Can someone please explain to me why Australia has gone down the absolute toilet? Because the cost of living at the moment is a joke,’ one agitated man said.
His modest grocery haul from Coles, of carrots, eggs, soy milk, twiggy sticks, bacon, rice, coffee, dog food, onions and garlic, came to more than $90.
The man ranted angrily at how little (pictured) he got for his $91 at a trip to the supermarket
‘I’m making one meal tonight, fried rice, and we got the dog some food, OK? This came to $91,’ he said, pointing to the beef, bacon, tea and other goods he got.
‘How does this add up to $91, bro? I mean, what a f****** joke. How are millennials or Gen Z meant to get ahead. How is anybody with a family even living.’
Daniel Andrews is the highest paid premier in Australia, with the Victorian leader’s salary rising to $481,890 on July 1.
‘There was a time when politicians set their own pay and we took steps to change that. We stand by those decisions,’ he said.
‘It’s an independent model. We do not set our own pay… it’s set by an independent, arm’s length tribunal, and that is far preferable in my mind, to MPs setting their own pay rises.’
Daniel Andrews (pictured) is the highest paid premier in Australia, with the Victorian leader’s salary rising to $481,890 on July 1
