Photo: File photo.
Do you think our politicians and public service chiefs are fat cats and we’re not getting value for money?
Or do you think they deserve more than what they are currently being paid, considering the responsibility, working hours and roles?
Then have your say on what you think their pay, entitlements and allowances should be.
The ACT Remuneration Tribunal wants to know your views as it reviews the following key public roles:
- Members of the Legislative Assembly;
- Head of Service, Directors-General and Executives of the ACT Public Service;
- Full-time Holders of Public Office;
- Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
People are encouraged to look at what members would be responsible for and what work they would do, including examples of this role or a similar role in other jurisdictions or industries.
Submissions should also include a recommended remuneration for the role and any comparative data or examples that support your recommendation.
Anyone can make a submission, including those directly affected by the outcome.
Last year the ACT’s politicians pocketed a pay rise worth at least $3,100 a year after a decision by the Remuneration Tribunal that MLA’s base salaries should be increased by two per cent, taking the base to $160,373 per year.
On top of that, ministers, major party leaders, committee chairs and presiding officers received additional payment for their duties, calculated as a percentage of the base rate.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr received an additional loading of 110 per cent of his base salary, taking his total pay to $336,783 per year.
Deputy Opposition Leader Nicole Lawder received on top of the base salary increase, a rise in the loading for her position from 15 per cent to 20 per cent, a boost of $11,636.
Tribunal chair Anne Cahill Lambert told the ABC at the time that the increase, which also applied to public service executives and judges, was overdue.
“We did a big review in 2014 and at that time we had decided to give them a significant pay rise … unfortunately, the state of the economy meant that we couldn’t continue that,” she said.
“So part of that 2 per cent for the politicians is in fact related to the review of 2014 when we abolished significant allowances.”
Ms Lambert said it was necessary to use salaries to attract talent to the ACT’s leadership positions.
“Our politicians are the second lowest paid in Australia, so I don’t think we’re being over exuberant here or overly generous,” she said.
“We want to be able to continue to attract and retain good politicians, good public servants, good judges, all those sorts of people — and you have to pay for that.”
Submissions are due by noon, 12 February and can be made via the online form, in writing via email to remtrib@act.gov.au or post to The Chair, ACT Remuneration Tribunal, PO Box 964, Civic Square ACT 2608.
Submissions will be published on the Remuneration Tribunal website. Submissions can remain confidential.
The Tribunal’s determinations are expected in March/April.
Will you be making a submission? Let us know by commenting below.
Loading ...
