Pay increase for Tasmanian politicians determined by industrial commission

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

Tasmanian politicians will receive a $30,000 increase in their base salary following a long-awaited determination by Tasmania's Industrial Commission.
The 22.36 per cent increase takes the base pay from $140,185 — where it had been frozen since 2018 — to $171,527, with the pay rise to take effect from July 1.
It also includes increases in motor vehicle and electorate allowances.
The determination still leaves Tasmanian MPs with the lowest base pay of any politicians in the nation, but only slightly behind New South Wales ($172,576), Western Australia ($173,393) and the Northern Territory ($175,000).
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff's pay will increase to almost $369,000, a rise of almost $68,000, while ministers will receive a base salary of $291,597.
In its report, the industrial commission acknowledged the increases "may seem large".
"However, they are based on the Wage Price Index or the Consumer Price Index, which track inflation and real movements in salary," the commission said in its determination.
"The recommended increase for members of parliament is comparable, though slightly more than, increases in the public sector wages agreements for a similar period.
The determination does not recommend back pay be given to politicians who were in state parliament between 2018 and present.
The pay rise will automatically take place from July 1, unless it is disallowed by both houses of parliament.
Mr Rockliff said the report from the industrial commission was seven years coming.
"The recommended increase is out of step with community expectations and we will not be accepting it," he said.
The commission's report found politicians in Tasmania's lower house would sit in parliament for 45 days this year, up from a national average of 43.25, while upper house MPs would also sit for 45 days, down from a national average of 49 sitting days.