Happy new year Anthony Albanese! Huge pay bump for the PM and his public servants – and you won’t believe the salary of one minister
As many ordinary Australians struggle to afford basic necessities, the Prime Minister, top civil servants and judges are set to announce huge salary increases next year.
The independent Remuneration Tribunal has decided to give all politicians and other office holders within its license a four percent increase with effect from July 1.
In August, it was revealed that Anthony Albanese had an extra $22,594 in his pocket, increasing his salary from $546,356 in early 2023 to $586,950.
It can now be revealed that the increase is modest compared to the pay increase that will come into effect for several civil servants.
They will earn almost $1 million a year, almost double what Mr. Albanese earns.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese enters 2024 with an additional $22,594 in salary compared to the start of the year
Minister of Prime Minister and Cabinet Glyn Davis received a $37,590 raise to increase his salary from $939,610 to $977,200.
Other top civil servants are also seeing huge pay increases.
The secretaries of the Treasury, Attorney General, Defense and Social Services all received increases of more than $35,000, meaning they will start in 2024 with salaries well above $900,000 per year.
The head of the financial watchdog Australian Prudential Regulation Authority is also smiling all the way to the bank, whose $36,450 increase takes his salary from $879,480 to $911,140.
The heads of the Australian Public Service Commission, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and the Solicitor-General all also received pay rises above $31,000.
This puts them all at wages above $829.00.
Minister in the Prime Minister and Cabinet Glyn Davis received a $37,590 raise to increase his salary from $939,610 to $977,200
John Losdale, chairman of Australia's Prudential Regulation Authority, will take home an extra $36,450, increasing his salary from $879,480 to $911,140.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court will be $25,000 better off next year than at the beginning of 2023, taking home $649,880, while the other Supreme Court justices have received a raise of $22,690 to bring their compensation to $589,750.
The Chief Justice of the Federal Court takes home an extra $21,170, bringing his salary to $550,320, while the judges on that bench get $19,240 more and are now at $500,140.
Politicians other than Mr Albanese have not missed anything.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles earned $17,814 to bring his salary to $462,787, while Treasurer Jim Chalmers pocketed an additional $16,076, bringing his total pay to $423,281.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pockets an extra $16,076 to earn $417,637, while Cabinet ministers also received a $14,964 boost to take them to $388,290, while rank-and-file MPs were $8,690 better off with a relatively modest salary of $225,750.
Politicians receive additional benefits on top of their regular wages, including allowances for travel and accommodation in Canberra.
Former South Australian Independent Senator Rex Patrick posted a table of pay increases on
Former South Australian independent senator Rex Patrick is critical of the amount top government officials are paid
'If you're looking at your credit card balance after Christmas and wondering how you're going to fare next year, especially given the current cost of living crisis, I thought I'd provide an overview of the circumstances of senior civil servants when they move to 2024,β he tweeted.
The tribunal's four percent increase is above Australia's current inflation benchmark, with prices rising 3.6 percent per year.
However, Mr Patrick said he did not begrudge politicians their pay rises but was skeptical that top civil servants were taking in so much more in comparison.
βMy opinion is that most MPs and Senators deserve every cent they receive,β he tweeted.
“Actually, I think their salary (for working seven days a week) is a useful basis against which to measure other salaries.”
In response to those who pointed out that salaries were determined by an independent tribunal, Mr Patrick had a response ready.
βYes, it is an independent tribunal that allocates taxpayers' money to different positions, and therefore not without accountability to those taxpayers,β he said.