South Australian judges and magistrates get hefty pay rises despite Opposition protests

AN independent tribunal has awarded SA judges and magistrates pay rises from next month that will bump annual wages up between $13,000 and $21,000 from last year. So, how much will the Chief Justice earn?

Chief Justice Chris Kourakis.

• Federal MPs and judges receive 2 per cent pay rise
• SA judges to receive $1000 a year to increase home security
• South Australian judges no longer forced to drive Holden cars

SOUTH Australia’s top judge will earn half a million dollars a year for the first time in history after securing two pay rises within 18 months.

An independent tribunal has awarded SA judges and magistrates pay rises from next month that will bump annual wages up between $13,000 and $21,000 from last year.

The jump in salary, which equates to 4.4 per cent over 18 months courtesy of two pay rises during that period, comes despite the former State Government arguing salaries should stay in line with its state wage policy of increases of no more than 1.5 per cent annually.

The most recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the Wage Price Index (WPI) rose 0.5 per cent in this year’s March quarter and 2.1 per cent through the year.

Under the new pay structure, the annual salary of the state’s top judge, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, will rise to $503,780 — up from $482,590 in January last year.

It means the Chief Justice’s salary will rival, and in some cases exceed, the pay packets of the men and women running State Government Departments.

The former Labor state government, through the Crown Solicitor, had argued judges and magistrates should stay on 2017 wages levels.

The South Australian Remuneration Tribunal, which has awarded the two pay rises in 18 months, acknowledged the former government’s concerns.

But it argued economic conditions in SA were on the improve, justifying the salary increases.

“The Tribunal is not persuaded that espoused Government wages policy should displace the Tribunal’s long standing approach to determine relevant salaries within a national framework of remuneration for judicial officers,” it found.

The tribunal noted new Premier Steven Marshall did not wish to make any additional submissions.

An SA Judiciary spokeswoman said the determination brought South Australian judges, including the Chief Justice, from the position of being the lowest paid in Australia to a mid-range level when compared with other members of the bench across Australia.

“Judicial remuneration is an important element in attracting lawyers of excellence and maintaining high standards in the administration of justice,” she said. “There is a public interest in maintaining appropriate levels of judicial remuneration.”