Union boss Peter Marshall reveals $400k pay packet

The closely guarded pay packet of Union boss, Peter Marshall has been exposed during the union figure’s failed bid for an extra $1 million in taxpayer-funded superannuation.

Firebrand union boss Peter Marshall has been forced to reveal as part of a legal battle that he was paid $409,200 in one year. Picture: Hamish Blair

Firebrand union boss Peter Marshall has been forced to reveal as part of a legal battle that he was paid $409,200 in one year.

The closely guarded pay packet was exposed during Mr Marshall’s failed bid before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for an extra $1 million in taxpayer-funded superannuation.

The pay packet is more than Premier Daniel Andrews and CFA chiefs earn.

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Emergency Services union bosses are entitled to a defined benefit pension, with the final payout based on “final average salary”.

Mr Marshall argued that his retirement payout should be based on a combination of his state secretary pay, his salary as national secretary of the United Firefighters Union, and a raft of allowances.

In rejecting the union’s cash claim, VCAT member Elisabeth Wentworth said “it was not a simple matter to identify from the evidence what Mr Marshall was paid in the relevant years and the basis for it”.

Ms Wentworth said Mr Marshall was paid more than $950 a week for meals and “living away from home”, but in addition he was also reimbursed for travel costs.

“He is entitled to and does claim reimbursement for all payment of accommodation or other travel expenses,” she said.

In 2014, he was also paid $25,203 in “regular overtime”, an emergency medical response allowance and had his home phone, mobile and internet paid for.

The UFU initially argued Mr Marshall’s pay totalled $472,581 in 2014, which would have boosted the amount he was seeking from the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme Board.

It later revised the salary down to $409,200 for that year after realising the higher figure already included some superannuation contributions.

In 2016, his package was about $384,000 — or $339,000 without super contributions.

Ms Wentworth said the ESSS Board shouldn’t cough up more money for his retirement just because in 2014 “there was apparently a decision, not recorded in any clear or formal way, to claim or designate the whole of Mr Marshall’s remuneration as superable salary”.

“In this case the amounts in dispute would add approximately $1 million to Mr Marshall’s retirement benefit if he retired now.”

The divisive union figure created a political storm for Labor last term, with Mr Andrews capitulating to his CFA EBA demands before eventually dismantling the fire services in Victoria.

Peter Marshall speaks to firefighters at a rally. Picture: Tim Carrafa

In 2018, Mr Andrews was forced to hold a press conference to publicly deny he had a special deal with Mr Marshall after the UFU secretary suggested he did.

A witness statement provided by Mr Marshall to VCAT reveals the 57-year-old had planned to retire that year.

“As a result of ESSS’s decision to reduce his benefits, he has had to postpone … his retirement by seeking to be re-elected to the office of branch secretary in 2018 for a further three-year term,” the order says.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said deals for union mates would be “a look into life should Bill Shorten ever become prime minister”.

“Victorians deserve to know if this is Bill Shorten’s idea of what a ‘fair go’ looks like.”

Ms Wentworth said the effective doubling of Mr Marshall’s salary would create “a significant increase in unfunded liability”.

Mr Marshall did not respond to questions.

A state government spokesman said the matter was between Mr Marshall and Emergency Services State Super.

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Originally published as Union boss Peter Marshall reveals $400k pay packet