57 percent pay rise for politicians after Albanese win
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Australia's newest ministers are in for big pay rises following Labor's landslide election win - including some still aged 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.
The biggest pay rises went to new Melbourne-based ministers elevated from the backbench on Tuesday when they were sworn in by Governor-General Sam Mostyn . These MPs have been promoted from the backbench to the outer ministry, increasing their base salaries by 57.5 per cent, from $233,660 to $368,015.
Sam Rae (pictured left) at just 38 has been appointed the new Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, as a former Labor state secretary. He's joined in that salary jump by Daniel Mulino, an economist with a PhD from Yale, who has been appointed Assistant Treasurer; and Jess Walsh, a former union leader who now holds the Early Childhood Education portfolio. Two high-profile women have moved into the 23-member cabinet from the outer ministry - with their salary hiked from $368,015 to $403,064.
They are Anne Aly (pictured left), a former academic and Perth-based MP, who now has the International Development, Multicultural Affairs and Small Business portfolios; plus former Brisbane-based lawyer Anika Wells, 39, who is moving into Cabinet with the Communications portfolio. Tim Ayres, a senator for NSW, got a 38 per cent pay rise and is the new Industry Innovation and Science Minister, earning $403,064 - up 38 per cent from his previous assistant minister job.
New assistant ministers will earn a salary of $292,075. These include Rebecca White, the former Tasmanian Opposition Leader who is now the Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Women. Also among their number are Andrew Charlton, an economist who moves from the backbench to become Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy; Peter Khalil, the new Assistant Minister for Defence; and Josh Wilson, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
Senior ministers Tanya Pilbersek (now Social Services), Amanda Rishworth (Employment and Workplace Relations) and Michelle Rowland (Attorney-General) keep their $403,064 salary. The most senior ministers Penny Wong (pictured) (Foreign Affairs) and Jim Chalmers (Treasurer) earn $438,113 while Katy Gallagher (Finance) earns a little less at $408,905. 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. New pay rises for all MPs come into effect in July, flowing through to backbenchers all the way up to the PM.
But the loading formula for ministers remains the same, including those with extra duties managing government business in the Senate. Not everyone was a winner. Josh Burns, the Melbourne-based MP, was appointed a special envoy for social housing and homelessness - but unlike assistant ministers, doesn't get a 25 per cent loading on top of a backbencher's base salary of $233,660. And then the pay cuts...
Former ministers suffered a 42 per cent pay cut, seeing their salaries fall from $403,064 down to $233,660. Former industry minister Ed Husic and attorney-general Mark Dreyfus will suffer big salary hits after Marles declined to use his clout as a Right faction leader to save them.
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