Taxpayers deserve bang for their buck

It will come as no surprise to anyone observing how the Palaszczuk government operates that the number of public servants earning at least $120,000 a year has skyrocketed, writes The Editor.

It will come as no surprise to anyone observing how the Palaszczuk government operates that the number of Queensland public servants earning at least $120,000 a year has skyrocketed.

The jump is 18 per cent in just 12 months – a huge increase by anyone’s standards – and those earning more than $120,000 now make up at least 16 per cent of the public service.

The vast majority of those earning above $120,000 are in the health and education sectors. Which, at the face of it, during a pandemic in which both these sectors have done some heavy lifting, is understandable.

It’s well above the average national salary of around $90,000 and places them comfortably in the top 20 per cent of wage earners.

In a time of historically slow wages growth, it’s nice work if you can get it.

But there is no doubt that doctors, nurses and teachers deserve to be paid well.

The Queensland government says about 91 per cent of public servants are considered frontline and frontline support workers.

But the government’s definition of frontline is laughably broad – it also includes art gallery and museum curators, grants and management officers, school crossing supervisors as well as program or project managers.

Taxpayers are entitled to question the level of service they’re getting.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Jerad Williams

Patients who have waited longer than recommended times to be seen in emergency departments or parents who are anxious about Queensland’s poor NAPLAN performance compared with other states will be sceptical.

We have a decentralised state, which does mean there are costs associated with ensuring services are available to all Queenslanders – no matter where they live. And of course, public service wages should be competitive with the private sector. But the government must explain what improvements we can expect to services.

There are now 3800 workers earning at least $180,000 per year – up from 3557 a year ago, while those earning between $150,000 to $179,999 have jumped from 3108 to 3633. There are now also 30,572 public servants earning between $120,000 and $149,999 per year – which is a 20.1 per cent increase from the year prior.

Taxpayers are entitled to get bang for their buck – and it is on the Palaszczuk government to ensure this happens.

This government has made much political hay criticising former LNP premier Campbell Newman’s cuts to the public sector a decade ago. But that does not mean that this government has a licence to do what it pleases with the public sector, unchecked.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS

THE phrase “personal responsibility” has been thrown around a lot lately as Australia moves, somewhat clumsily, from Covid lockdowns and border closures towards reclaiming the personal freedoms we gave up in the name of public health.

In the age of Omicron, personal responsibility, as we are finding out, can be a double-edged sword. Rushing headlong into the “new normal” without heeding the health advice – not being vaccinated, not using masks or socially distancing – can make you sick, as well as exposing your workmates and loved ones.

We are seeing a similar thing along the state’s surf beaches this week. The remnants of Cyclone Seth have whipped up massive swells, forcing life guards and lifesavers to close beaches for swimming.

But hundreds of people have ignored the “beach closed” signs, deciding to take personal responsibility as they dive into the foamy sea.

And, like Covid, their selfishness does not effect only them.

Patrolling life guards and lifesavers can’t ignore someone in trouble, and still have to perform rescues. And by doing so they are putting their own lives as risk.

Personal responsibility means being sensible. It doesn’t mean you can do anything you want.