No pay rises for NSW politicians during pandemic
A strongly worded letter from the NSW government has told the remuneration tribunal not to grant politicians any extra pay or allowances during the pandemic.
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A strongly worded letter from the NSW government has told the remuneration tribunal not to grant politicians any extra pay or allowances during the pandemic.
The state’s pay authority has been told while the private sector faced pay cuts and job losses, politicians should not get any special treatment.
MPs will be ordered to reject any pay hike even if the tribunal hands them one.
Government whip Adam Crouch signed the letter to the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal on Thursday, advising pay and conditions should be frozen.
It comes as the government has not yet ruled out a pay freeze for public servants.
“COVID-19 has touched every aspect of our society and affected every sector and industry,” Mr Crouch wrote.
“Of the 4.1 million people employed in NSW, 90 per cent are employed in the private sector and many of these people are facing the prospect of massive pay cuts and job losses.
“In these circumstances if the Tribunal were to recommend any increases for MPs, NSW government MPs would be instructed by the Premier, Deputy Premier and Treasurer to reject it.”
It comes after the government received criticism for supporting an $87,000 pay rise for police chief Mick Fuller, which Mr Fuller himself has offered to forego.