The federal government has raised eyebrows this week after announcing it would lift the governor general’s salary by a whopping $214,000 ahead of the appoint of Samantha Mostyn into the role as of next week.
The GG’s salary will rise from $495,000 to $709,017 per annum, representing a 43 per cent increase. The GG’s salary cannot be changed for the period they are in office, and must be agreed upon before commencing in the role.
Patrick Gorman, assistant minister to the PM, introduced a bill to parliament confirming the new salary and said the increase was appropriate as it was indexed to the salary of the chief justice of the high court.
“In line with past practice, the proposed salary is calculated by reference to the estimated average salary of the chief justice of the high court of Australia over the notional five-year term of the appointment of the governor general,” Mr Gorman said in the chamber.
Ms Mostyn’s new salary will mean she is more highly paid than the PM, who takes home around $607,471 a year.
But with many Aussies doing it tough at the moment, critics have blasted the generous increase, labelling it as ‘failing to pass the pub test’. Nationals MP Keith Pitt told The Australian the pay boost was “indefensible”.
“In the middle of a Labor-induced cost-of-living crisis, this pay rise is obscene and indefensible,” he said.
“So many people are out there who can’t pay their rent, can’t pay their bills and can’t put food on the table.”
Do you think the pay rise is fair? Or too much when too many have too little?
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