Anthony Albanese speech comes back to haunt him
Anthony Albanese has been branded ‘hypocritical’ after footage emerged of him criticizing a pay rise given to the Governor-General in 2003.
It comes after news emerged this week that current Governor General Sam Mostyn will be getting a $200,000 pay rise, taking her annual salary to $709,017.
The base salary is a huge increase from the $495,000 paid to outgoing head of state David Hurley and has angered many, especially with the cost of living still high.
In footage now circulating through Parliament in June 2003, Mr Albanese was seen questioning a $55,000 pay rise given to the then Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, as part of the Governor-General Amendment Bill 2003.
“The governor general will get a pay increase of $55,000, or more than $1,000 a week,” Albanese said in parliament at the time.
Anthony Albanese has been branded a hypocrite after footage emerged of him criticizing a pay rise given to the Governor-General in 2003.
“There’s a stark contrast to the average Australian and the average Australian will be concerned about a bill that increases wages by $55,000 in one fell swoop.
“Because in contrast, 1.7 million low-wage workers got a pay increase from $15 to $17 a week in the latest safety net industrial relations case.”
The images are circulating on social media, with many pointing out the “irony” in Albanese’s attitude to the pay increase then and now.
“This hasn’t aged well, has it? Oh, the hypocrisy!’ wrote one.
“If it wasn’t so outrageous it would be funny,” said another.
“Hypocrisy okay,” someone said.
Bills were introduced to federal parliament on Monday that will set Ms Mostyn’s salary.
The new governor-general’s pay will be higher because Ms Mostyn is not yet collecting Commonwealth payments, such as the military pensions Mr Hurley receives after serving in the defense force.
The Governor General’s salary is determined by the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and will not increase during the term due to factors such as inflation.
It comes after news emerged this week that current Governor General Sam Mostyn will be getting a $200,000 pay rise, taking her annual salary to $709,017.
“It is common practice for the Governor General’s remuneration to be set slightly above the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet said.
“The governor general’s salary is fixed before he takes office and, according to the constitution, cannot be changed during his term of office.”
It comes as the Prime Minister and other federal politicians will each receive a 3.5 percent pay increase from July 1, as announced by The Remuneration Tribunal, an independent body that sets the pay of federal politicians and bureaucrats.
The pay increase will see Mr Albanese take home $607,471 a year, up from $586,929.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton received a $25,000 pay increase and now has a salary of $432,239.
Ministry Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Glyn Davis – the highest paid civil servant – will receive an additional $34,202, bringing him to $1,011,402 a year.