The decision to grant Victoria’s politicians an ‘obscene’ pay rise amid a deepening cost-of-living crisis has sparked outrage.
Victorian MPs will receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise from July 1, with the base salary for an MP now standing at $198,839 per annum following a decision by an independent tribunal.
Daniel Andrews remains Australia’s highest paid Prime Minister with an increased salary of $481,190, including $60,480 for expenses.
He previously earned $464,918 making it a $16,272 pay raise.
Mr Andrews earns about $100,000 less than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is believed to earn $564,354 in the top job.
Social commentator Prue MacSween said the “obscene” pay rise was a slap in the face to households struggling to make ends meet, accusing politicians of being too busy chasing “awake projects” to get involved worry.
“Everyone suffers from the cost of living and we would all like a pay rise but most companies can’t afford it,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
“These politicians are lucky enough to be able to drink from the taxpayer’s gushing well. It’s a funnel of money that never stops.
Daniel Andrews (pictured Tuesday) remains Australia’s highest paid prime minister with an increased salary of $481,190, including $60,480 for expenses
Mr Andrews earns about $100,000 less than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon), who is believed to earn $564,354 in the top job
“This is a slap in the face to the rest of us given the mismanagement and bad decisions by politicians and bureaucrats that have contributed to this inflationary problem.
“They are so obsessed with chasing ideologies with awakened projects that they are not focused on the things that matter to us.
“We hear a lot of platitudes from politicians about the crisis that householders are in, but these fat cats have no idea what’s really going on.”
Ms MacSween said families were struggling to pay their bills, put food on the table and pay their rent and mortgages to keep their homes.
“Meanwhile, those in the political bubble enjoy all the trappings of a well-paying, secure job courtesy of the rest of us,” she said.
She called on MPs who wanted to maintain some personal credibility to postpone the increase.
It’s obscene and insulting, especially given the poor caliber of politicians we have now. If any of them had known the slightest bit, they would say ‘no thanks’ to the raise,” Ms MacSween said.
Victorian Deputy Prime Minister Jacinta Allan will receive an increased salary of $409,608, while Opposition Leader John Pesutto will receive $383,760 a year.
Victorian MPs will also receive a generous 6.8 per cent increase on their international travel allowance, which will rise to $10,765.
Annual expense allowances range from $3,558 to $60,480.
Shadow ministers receive an additional $17,375 per year, plus $12,452 in expenses, bringing their total earnings to $228,666.
Victorian Deputy Prime Minister Jacinta Allan (right) receives a $409,608 boost, while Opposition Leader John Pesutto receives $383,760 a year
Members of Parliament election offices receive an annual stipend of between $45,022 and $53,933, depending on the size of their electorate.
The motor vehicle allowance for MPs “who choose not to be provided with a fully serviced motor vehicle” is now between $23,225 and $34,994 per year.
The 3.5 per cent pay rise follows a four-year review of MPs’ salaries by the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal (VIRT).
In making its decision, the tribunal must take into account the state’s financial position and current and expected economic conditions.
Victorian Liberal MP Nick McGowan said residents had ‘every right to be annoyed and frustrated’ amid rising debt and cuts to other public functions.
“Teachers are not getting enough and a whole host of other civil servants who are not going to enjoy the same kind of pay raises as politicians,” he told the newspaper. ABC.
“They’re giving politicians a raise the moment we stack and cut government officials and those who have served our community.”
Victorian Liberal MP Nick McGowan (pictured) said residents had ‘every right to be annoyed and frustrated’ amid rising debt and cuts to other public services
He said there was a lot of “smoke and mirrors” around MPs’ salaries, which he said were a combination of salary, allowances and supplementary allowances.
Federal MPs received a 2.75 percent raise this fiscal year, raising their salary from $211,250 to $217,060 per year, excluding allowances and expenses.
The Fair Work Commission granted a 5.75 per cent minimum wage increase and national awards earlier this month, affecting the wages of 2.67 million Australians – or one in four workers.
The national weekly minimum wage increases by $70.29 per week to $882.89.
The annual wage review decision directly affects 184,000 minimum wage workers in retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation, but will affect many more workers on national awards as of early July.