logo
How much is Anthony Albanese paid?

How much is Anthony Albanese paid?

Daily Mail​14-05-2025

Australia's newest ministers are in for big pay rises following Labor's landslide election win - including some still in their thirties.
Anthony Albanese is the highest paid around the Cabinet table at $607,516, followed by his deputy Richard Marles on $479,003 and Treasurer Jim Chalmers on $438,113, although these salaries are unchanged from their previous term.
But the biggest pay rises went to new Melbourne-based ministers moving from the backbench on Tuesday, as they were sworn in by Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
New Outer Ministers (One Step Below Cabinet) These MPs have been promoted from the backbench to the outer ministry, increasing their base salaries by 57.5%, from $233,660 to $368,015:
Sam Rae (38) – New Minister for Aged Care and Seniors; previously Labor's Victorian state secretary, now Australia's youngest minister.
Daniel Mulino – Economist with a PhD from Yale; appointed Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister.
Jess Walsh – Former union leader now Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth.
New cabinet ministers on $403,064, marking a 9.5% rise from outer ministry salary of $368,015
High-profile women have moved into the 23-member cabinet from the outer ministry.
Anne Aly - Former academic and Perth-based MP, now has the International Development, Multicultural Affairs and Small Business portfolios.
Anika Wells (39) - Brisbane-based MP is moving into Cabinet with the Communications portfolio, adding this to Sport but dropping aged care.
New cabinet minister on $403,064 getting 38% pay rise from $292,075 as an assistant minister
Tim Ayres - A senator for NSW is the new Industry, Innovation and Science Minister, replacing Husic.
New Assistant Ministers getting $292,075 salary
Rebecca White - Former Tasmanian Opposition Leader Rebecca White becomes the Assistant Minister for Heath, Aged Care and Women as a first-term federal MP.
Andrew Charlton - Parramatta-based economist moves from backbench to new role of Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy.
Peter Khalil - Melbourne-based MP is the Assistant Minister for Defence.
Josh Wilson - Member for Fremantle is the new Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
Tanya Plibersek - High profile former environment minister from Sydney moves to Social Services portfolio, putting her in charge of Centrelink payments from JobSeeker for the unemployed to the Age Pension, Youth Allowance and parenting benefits.
Amanda Rishworth - Adelaide MP moves from social services to Employment and Workplace Relations.
Michelle Rowland - Western Sydney MP becomes the new Attorney-General after serving as the previous communications minister in charge of a misinformation and disinformation bill that was dropped last year.
Chalmers - Brisbane-based Treasurer earns the same.
Backbenchers get a base salary of $233,660
The Remuneration Tribunal determines the base pay of federal MPs every year, along with loadings for senior Cabinet ministers, junior ministers, assistant ministers and those who head parliamentary committees.
Others
Josh Burns - Melbourne-based MP Josh Burns has been appointed a Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness.
Unlike assistant ministers, he doesn't get a 25 per cent loading on top of a backbencher's base salary of $233,660.
Former ministers suffer 42% pay cut, seeing salaries fall from $403,064 down to $233,660
Rae and Mulino went to the ministry after Marles orchestrated the dumping of former industry minister Ed Husic and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus from Cabinet.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Andrew Bolt demands an investigation into Brittany Higgins' $2.4million payout after she announced her return to the workforce
Andrew Bolt demands an investigation into Brittany Higgins' $2.4million payout after she announced her return to the workforce

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Andrew Bolt demands an investigation into Brittany Higgins' $2.4million payout after she announced her return to the workforce

Andrew Bolt has called for an investigation into Brittany Higgins ' $2.4million compensation payment from the federal government after she got a new job despite being 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment'. The former Liberal staffer made a compensation claim for damages in March 2022 after alleging she was raped in parliament by her former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann. He has always denied the claims but was found to have raped Ms Higgins on the balance of probabilities by Justice Michael Lee in April last year - a decision Lehrmann is currently appealing. In Ms Higgins' draft statement of claim, first reported by The Australian newspaper, she had been 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment, and has been given a very poor prognosis for future employment'. The claim suggested she was therefore due over $2.5 million in economic loss for 40 years' of missed earnings. These claims were untested in court given Ms Higgins was awarded the $2.4 million by payout after one day of mediation talks. Now, Sky News host Andrew Bolt has called for a 'hearing' into the decision. 'I feel taxpayers were taken for a ride by both Higgins and by the government. Shouldn't this payout be investigated?' he asked in a column for Newscorp. 'Indeed, it's now nearly two years since Linda Reynolds (former Defence Minister and Ms Higgins' former boss) rightly referred it to Labor's new National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation. 'It's still deciding what to do, but Reynolds isn't giving up.' A decision in Senator Reynolds' defamation action against Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz is expected later this month. The couple were forced to sell their French chateau they bought in 2023 to pay for their legal bills. Despite once claiming not to be able to work again, Ms Higgins last week revealed she is returning to the workforce, joining the same company where her husband is employed. The 30-year-old is now the director of public affairs at the public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review first reported. Her appointment came soon after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the agency. The pair are working from home as they juggle their roles with looking after their son Freddie who was born on March 2. Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment on Instagram with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!' It is the first full-time job for Ms Higgins since she was a ministerial media adviser and was thrust into the limelight when she made rape claims against Lehrmann. Following the trials, Ms Higgins became an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and has interned at the United Nations and has done work for Queensland's Human Rights Commission. Ms Higgins explained her move to Third Hemisphere came after fostering a connection with the firm's founder and CEO Hannah Moreno. Ms Moreno was also a rape and domestic violence survivor who campaigns for gender equality and fights against sexual harassment. 'There was this general feeling of "how long do I have to be the story for?" At what point do I get to put it to rest... and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,' Ms Higgins said. 'I also have a brand reputation and I don't want to align myself in a corporate sense with someone that could be doing something untoward. 'I had to join a team that I fundamentally believe in and which believes in the same things that I do.' Ms Higgins said the role would be her first step in following her role models, including Governor-General Samantha Mostyn, Indigenous social activist and business executive Tanya Hosch and business executive Christine Holgate. In her new position, Ms Higgins will work with clients on reputation management and strategic advocacy. She will also handle stakeholder engagement, media relations and public affairs initiatives which create public discussion. Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment to Instagram on Wednesday with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!' In August 2021, Mr Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019. Ms Higgins shared her alleged sexual assault ordeal with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room. Another criminal trial did not happen, with prosecutors citing concern for Ms Higgins' mental health. In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he'd been defamed by The Project episode. The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann's reputation in ruins with Justice Michael Lee finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins. He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August. After quitting her role as Liberal Party media adviser, Ms Higgins worked on short-term contracts at the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Queensland Human Rights Commission. She also signed a book deal with Penguin Random House in 2021 for a tell-all memoir about her time in Parliament and the moment Lehrmann allegedly raped her. The final 90,000-word autobiography was meant to hit shelves in 2022, but publishers placed it on indefinite hold due to legal issues - namely, because the trial against Mr Lehrmann fell over and he was never convicted. It emerged this week that Mr Lehrmann is working unpaid as a live-in nanny to the children of a close friend as he awaits further trials.

Aussies unleash after Scott Morrison receives top accolade in King's Birthday Honours: 'Baffles me'
Aussies unleash after Scott Morrison receives top accolade in King's Birthday Honours: 'Baffles me'

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Aussies unleash after Scott Morrison receives top accolade in King's Birthday Honours: 'Baffles me'

Australians have lashed out after Scott Morrison was awarded the highest accolade in the King's Birthday Honours List. The former prime minister, who led the nation for four years from 2018 to 2022, was recognised for his 'eminent service to the people and the parliament of Australia, particularly as prime minister'. A Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) is the highest award of the Order of Australia honours system. It is followed by Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM), and Medal of the Order (OAM). Former prime ministers are typically honoured in the King's Birthday awards, but the 30th prime minister's recognition sparked widespread criticism. Mr Morrison's term as prime minister was overshadowed by multiple controversies, including his secret appointment to several ministerial portfolios, involvement in the Robodebt scandal, and his widely criticised remark during the 2019 Black Summer bushfires: 'I don't hold a hose, mate'. On Monday, Australians took to social media to blast the former PM. 'If you get a shiny trinket just because your a*** has occupied the PM's chair then what is that trinket worth?' one Australian wrote on X. 'Someone should have intervened to deprive Australia's worst ever Prime Minister of this award.' 'It baffles me that we award public servants for doing the job they were paid for. I understand if they do something 'special', but politicians very rarely do,' another added. 'Morrison certainly did nothing 'special'. Not to mention the retirement package that they all enjoy.' 'It's demeaning of the honour system to be giving this cruel, disingenuous s***-bag any honour,' a third added. One Aussie kept a close tally of Mr Morrison's missteps. 'You lied to the public. Repeatedly. You appointed yourself to five secret ministries. Then claimed it was no big deal,' they wrote. 'You prayed the virus away, outsourced the vaccine rollout, then took credit when premiers fixed your mess. 'You fled to Hawaii during a bushfire crisis. Then blamed your daughters. 'Oh Scotty. Even your religion's ashamed of you. Jesus turned water into wine. You turned democracy into a private members club for gas executives.' Some Australians said Mr Morrison was 'underrated'. 'Respect, well deserved,' one wrote. 'Well deserved, Scomo is very underrated and deserves a lot more respect than what he is given,' another said. Since the establishment of the Order of Australia in 1975, every ex-prime minister has been appointed a Companion except Paul Keating. He declined because he believed the honours should be reserved for those whose community work went unrecognised. Mr Morrison's honour specifically points to his 'notable contributions to global engagement, to leadership of the national Covid response, to economic initiatives, and to national security enhancements, especially through leadership of Australia's contribution to AUKUS'. He received significant support during the early days of the pandemic, with an April 2020 Newspoll revealing he had the highest satisfaction rating for any prime minister since Kevin Rudd in 2009. But by the end of his second term, he had become the most unpopular major party leader since at least 1987, according to an Australian National University study. The King's Birthday Honours List names 581 people in the General Division of the Order of Australia, including academics, ex-sport stars, leaders and creatives. 'These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country,' Governor-General Sam Mostyn said. Fourteen people were appointed to the highest honour, AC. Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, best known for their work on films including Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby and Strictly Ballroom, received the accolade for their service to the arts. Environmental scientist Mark Howden, who served as a vice chair on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was also appointed to AC alongside business leader Jennifer Westacott and NASA climate science centre co-director Graeme Stephens. Bangerang and Wiradjuri woman Geraldine Atkinson has been named an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for her work with Indigenous communities and reconciliation.

Greens and independents to push Labor for tougher regulation of political lobbying
Greens and independents to push Labor for tougher regulation of political lobbying

The Guardian

time2 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Greens and independents to push Labor for tougher regulation of political lobbying

The Greens and prominent crossbenchers will push Labor to toughen regulation of political lobbying, promising to use their balance of power to increase transparency and probity around vested interests with access in Canberra. Labor's thumping election win has given the party a historic majority in the House of Representatives. Final results in the Senate and the defection of Western Australian senator Dorinda Cox from the Greens to Labor give the government 29 seats in the upper house, meaning it can pass legislation with the Greens' 10 votes. The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, said strengthening the federal lobbyist register and improving rules on access to ministers and government department heads was 'a missed opportunity' from the last parliament and would be a priority for her party in negotiations with Labor. Crossbenchers in both houses, including Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and ACT senator David Pocock, supported the push, urging Labor to toughen the rules on the influence industry. 'There's very poor regulation of lobbyists and access to politicians by lobbyists and vested interests,' Senator Waters said. 'They still walk the halls essentially with the red carpet rolled out for them. They have an access level that ordinary Australians don't have, so there's unfinished business there with the regulation of lobbying, it's really weak and effectively nonexistent.' A parliamentary inquiry report released last year showed the register of lobbyists administered by the attorney general's department captured only a small slice of the paid influence industry operating around federal parliament. As only paid third-party lobbyists are required to register – and not inhouse lobbyists employed by corporations – as much as 80% of the industry is not required to adhere to transparency rules. The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption warned the inquiry that unregulated lobbying allows for private interests 'to exert undue influence over official decision-making, while diminishing trust in government and increasing the risk of corruption'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email In mid-2024, there were more than 2,050 sponsored passes for access to Parliament House, an unknown share of which were held by paid lobbyists. The report found there was no interaction between the lobbyist register and the pass approval system, despite access being a key tool for the industry. Spender, the teal independent, said Labor should use its powerful position to clean up the system. 'As a member of parliament you're elected to represent the people of your community, not special interests with special access,' she said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We need much greater transparency of what lobbyists are doing so the public knows who is meeting MPs and why. We need to know which ministers and shadow ministers are meeting with lobbyists so we can see how they influence public policy.' Pocock warned unfettered access and transparency gaps around ministerial decision-making are having 'a corrosive impact'. 'We need a second-term Albanese government to step into the authority the Australian people have given them to do hard things that put people first,' he said. 'It's clear the major parties are captured by vested interests, whether it comes to standing up to big tech, pushing back on social harms like gambling or fossil fuel development.' Pocock pointed to Labor's failure to crackdown on gambling advertising in the last term as an example of the influence of lobbyists, suggesting the government had listened to powerful sports boss Peter V'landys instead of the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. Murphy led a landmark inquiry into social harms from gambling. Pocock has draft legislation designed to improve the rules around lobbying and has pledged to push for reform. His bill would require lobbyists to give quarterly updates on their work, including detailing which MPs and senior advisers they have held talks with. Former ministers and senior officials would be banned from lobbying in their area of experience for three years, up from the current 18 months, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission would have powers to investigate alleged rule breaches.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store