State Government set to announce how public service pay freeze will be implemented

The State Government’s controversial public service pay freeze is now finally official after Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace introduced an amendment to State Parliament this afternoon. THIS IS HOW IT WILL WORK

THE majority of public servant pay rises scheduled to be paid during the upcoming financial year will be deferred 18 months, following an amendment introduced in parliament this afternoon.

The deferral will come into affect from July 1 and extend until June 30, 2021.

Staff will then receive their promised increase six months after the date stipulated in the agreement.

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This means for teachers who were set to receive 2.5 per cent next month will receive 2.5 per cent in July next year and 2.5 per cent again in January 2022.

Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier said her Government would announce how it will implement its public service pay freeze but has refused to answer a number of questions over how it would do it.

The Premier would not say if legislation would be introduced this week, referring instead to Ms Grace’s statement.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says a public service pay freeze will save Queensland about $500 million over the financial year. Picture: Glenn Hunt

It comes after Australian Workers’ Union members secured a deal that will mean their 2020 pay increase will be deferred until early 2022 – allowing them to take home a 5 per cent pay rise that year.

Ms Palaszczuk today said the pay freeze was about making sure the Government had the money in the financial year when they “need it the most, which is now”.

“It’s to have it available in the financial year where we need it to help recover for Queensland jobs,” she said when asked if the measure was about long term cost saving.

“I cannot be clearer.

“Everyone will be on a level playing field from the 1st July where there is going to be a wage freeze.

“My Government is committed to job security.

“But we know that everyone has got to experience a bit of pain as well.”

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace will this afternoon outline how the public service pay freeze will be implemented. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Ms Palaszczuk said she understood this pay freeze would save the Budget about $500 million over the financial year.

She also confirmed that bonuses for water and power executives would not be going ahead this year.