Latest news with #RemunerationTribunal
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major blow for Albanese government officials as taxpayer-funded business class flights banned
Government board members and leaders of Commonwealth agencies will soon lose their business-class privileges on domestic flights. The Remuneration Tribunal, an independent body which set pay and employment perks for Commonwealth officials, on Thursday announced the major travel change. The tribunal's ruling comes after the Albanese Government last month quietly rejected the Finance Department's recommendation that Commonwealth workers should travel economy on flights less than three hours long Under the new ruling, from September 7, tier-two office holders will no longer receive taxpayer funds to cover business-class flights on domestic routes. The move effectively forces those workers - including leaders of some government agencies, those serving on government boards and council members - to travel economy. Affected agencies include High-Speed Rail Authority Board, Housing Australia, Renewable Energy Agency and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. The Remuneration Tribunal also announced the removal of first-class international flights for all office holders. The Department of Finance began a review of bureaucratic travel expenses following public backlash from commentator Joe Aston's book, The Chairman's Lounge: The Inside Story of how Qantas Sold Us Out. Aston's 2024 book detailed a series of complimentary upgrades Qantas offered politicians, including at least 22 to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The upgrades to business and first class were worth tens-of-thousands of dollars, raising concerns about corruption and bribes. Analysis of expenses revealed $4million of taxpayer funds could be saved by forcing public servants to travel economy on short domestic routes. 'There can be operational requirements to use business class on longer flights where government officials are expected to rest on the flight and arrive and commence work immediately,' the report stated. 'There are few operational requirements for shorter flights, especially those under three hours.' Existing travel arrangement cover employees of roughly 150 Commonwealth entities.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bureaucrats forced to fly economy as tribunal contradicts government
Government board members and leaders of Commonwealth agencies flying between Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne will be forced to endure economy seats despite the government insisting public servants be permitted to sit in business class. The Albanese government quietly revealed earlier this month that it had rejected a recommendation from the Finance Department that required bureaucrats to travel economy on flights of less than three hours, effectively allowing them to stay in business class. But the Remuneration Tribunal – which is an independent agency responsible for setting pay and perks rules for Commonwealth officials, including department heads, politicians and other senior bureaucrats – announced on Thursday that it was removing access to business-class travel for 'tier-two' office holders. Tier-two office holders tend to be leaders of some government corporations and agencies, or those serving on government boards and councils. This includes leaders of the High-Speed Rail Authority Board, Housing Australia, Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Australian Research Council, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. Secretaries of major departments or high-profile roles such as the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia are classified under tier one, meaning they are still entitled to fly business class on domestic flights. Loading A national outcry over government travel perks exploded last year after commentator Joe Aston revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class, worth tens of thousands of dollars, as had other politicians and public servants. The Department of Finance review called for public servants to be required to use economy rather than business class on flights of less than three hours, which could save up to $4 million a year on domestic flights. 'While there can be operational requirements to use business class on longer flights where government officials are expected to rest on the flight and arrive and commence work immediately, there are few operational requirements for shorter flights, especially those under three hours,' the report stated.
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Bureaucrats forced to fly economy as tribunal contradicts government
Government board members and leaders of Commonwealth agencies flying between Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne will be forced to endure economy seats despite the government insisting public servants be permitted to sit in business class. The Albanese government quietly revealed this month that it had rejected a recommendation from the Finance Department that required bureaucrats to travel economy on flights of less than three hours, effectively allowing them to stay in business class. But the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent agency responsible for setting pay and perks rules for Commonwealth officials, including department heads, politicians and other senior bureaucrats, announced on Thursday that it was removing access to business-class travel for 'tier-two' office holders. Tier-two office holders tend to be leaders of some government corporations and agencies, or those serving on government boards and councils. This includes leaders of the High-Speed Rail Authority Board, Housing Australia, Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Australian Research Council, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. Secretaries of major departments or high-profile roles such as the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia are classified under tier one, meaning they are still entitled to fly business class on domestic flights. Loading A national outcry over government travel perks exploded last year after commentator Joe Aston revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class, worth tens of thousands of dollars, as had other politicians and public servants. The Department of Finance review called for public servants to be required to use economy rather than business class on flights of less than three hours, which could save up to $4 million a year on domestic flights. 'While there can be operational requirements to use business class on longer flights where government officials are expected to rest on the flight and arrive and commence work immediately, there are few operational requirements for shorter flights, especially those under three hours,' the report stated.
The Age
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
The PM just got a pay rise. Here's how his salary compares to Trump and other leaders
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be paid more than US President Donald Trump from next month after the Remuneration Tribunal boosted federal politicians' pay by 2.4 per cent. But how does his salary compare to that of other countries' leaders? While the US president's salary has been steady since 2001, the Remuneration Tribunal determines the change in salaries of Australian ministers – including the prime minister – every year. The latest decision, which takes effect on July 1, lifts Albanese's salary from $607,500 to $622,071. That means he will now overtake Trump, who is paid $US400,000 ($617,000). Albanese's latest pay rise is lower than the 3.5 per cent increase granted by the Fair Work Commission for minimum wage earners earlier this month, which the tribunal considered alongside economic conditions and past and projected movements in private and public sector pay. While Albanese is among the highest-paid government leaders in the world, he falls short of some heads of state in neighbouring countries. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, for example, is the highest-paid government leader, collecting $SG2.2 million ($2.5 million) last year. Singapore's ministerial salaries were raised in the 1980s because the country's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, believed high salaries would reduce the temptation for corruption and attract the best people from the private sector to the public service. The leader, or chief executive, of Hong Kong also earns more than Albanese. Last year, the Hong Kong Free Press reported that John Lee would be paid about $HK5.6 million ($1.1 million). The Swiss president, who holds the position on a rotational one-year basis, received about 459,688 Swiss francs ($877,101) in 2024, placing the current leader, Karin Keller-Sutter, among the highest-paid in the world.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The PM just got a pay rise. Here's how his salary compares to Trump and other leaders
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be paid more than US President Donald Trump from next month after the Remuneration Tribunal boosted federal politicians' pay by 2.4 per cent. But how does his salary compare to that of other countries' leaders? While the US president's salary has been steady since 2001, the Remuneration Tribunal determines the change in salaries of Australian ministers – including the prime minister – every year. The latest decision, which takes effect on July 1, lifts Albanese's salary from $607,500 to $622,071. That means he will now overtake Trump, who is paid $US400,000 ($617,000). Albanese's latest pay rise is lower than the 3.5 per cent increase granted by the Fair Work Commission for minimum wage earners earlier this month, which the tribunal considered alongside economic conditions and past and projected movements in private and public sector pay. While Albanese is among the highest-paid government leaders in the world, he falls short of some heads of state in neighbouring countries. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, for example, is the highest-paid government leader, collecting $SG2.2 million ($2.5 million) last year. Singapore's ministerial salaries were raised in the 1980s because the country's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, believed high salaries would reduce the temptation for corruption and attract the best people from the private sector to the public service. The leader, or chief executive, of Hong Kong also earns more than Albanese. Last year, the Hong Kong Free Press reported that John Lee would be paid about $HK5.6 million ($1.1 million). The Swiss president, who holds the position on a rotational one-year basis, received about 459,688 Swiss francs ($877,101) in 2024, placing the current leader, Karin Keller-Sutter, among the highest-paid in the world.
