New Governor-General’s $200k pay rise slammed as ‘indefensible’ as Albo’s words come back to haunt him

Australia’s next Governor-General will get a bumper payday, with a boost of $200,000 more than her predecessor, the figure has been blasted as ‘indefensible’. Tell us what you think. Take our poll.

Anthony Albanese has been blasted over a proposal that would give the incoming Governor-General a $200,000 pay rise amid a historic cost-of-living crisis, bumping her salary to a staggering $709,000.

The pay rise has been blasted as failing to pass the pub test after it was introduced to parliament on Monday by the Albanese government.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said Ms Mostyn did not get other Commonwealth entitlements, such as a military pension, that was afforded to her predecessors who frequently came from military backgrounds.

The Labor government also reasoned that Ms Mostyn’s salary cannot be amended during the five-year term so the government was boosting her remuneration before she started the role.

“It is necessary to set the next Governor-General’s salary at a level appropriate for the duration of this term,” Mr Gorman said.

Samantha Mostyn will be next Governor-General of Australia. PIC: PMO

“Where, in the past, a Governor-General has been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements – such as a military pension – the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly.

“Ms Mostyn is not a recipient of any such entitlements.”

It comes as Nationals MP Keith Pitt criticised the salary increase, labelling the move as “indefensible”, The Australian reported.

“In the middle of a Labor-induced cost-of-living crisis, this pay rise is obscene and indefensible,” he said.

“So many people are out there who can’t pay their rent, can’t pay their bills and can’t put food on the table.”

Liberal senator Gerard Rennick said the “big jump” was not a “good look” for Labor amid significant cost-of-living pressures for many Australians, and questioned why the salary was tied to the chief justice’s.

“The governor-general does a lot of work, too, but it’s a different type of work – you’re not making decisions that affect people’s lives,” he said.

“As a politician, I’m in the position of making decisions rather than going around opening things … I don’t think it’s right to compare it to High Court judges making decisions for the country.”

Amid criticism of the move, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Anthony Albanese was critical of pay rises for Governors-General as a humble MP 20 years ago, comparing then Governor-General Michael Jeffery’s $1000 a week pay rise to low income Australians who got just $15 to $17 in 2003.

“The Governor-General will receive an annual pay rise of $55,000, or more than $1,000 a week. The person who has carriage of this bill, none other than the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, happily moved a motion granting this $1,000 a week increase,” Mr Albanese said then.

“There is a big difference here from average Australians — and average Australians will be concerned about a bill increasing a salary by $55,000 in one hit. In contrast, 1.7 million low-paid workers were awarded a pay rise of $15 to $17 a week in the latest Industrial Relations Commission safety net wage case.”

Ms Mostyn was being paid an annualised $263,000 to chair Aware Superannuation prior to being appointed Governor-General.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

Australian Taxpayers’ Association president Brian Marlow said the pay rise didn’t pass the pub test during a cost of living crisis and Mr Albanese should heed his words from the past.

“We have got a cost of living crisis. Labor is out there pretending they care about hard working Australians meanwhile they are paying overpaid bureaucrats even more,” he said.

“We are at a time when people have been annihilated by interest rate hikes and rent rises. It doesn’t stack up.

“The current Prime Minister should listen to Anthony Albanese from back then. Something has obviously changed, once he became PM he stopped caring about taxpayer money.”

Alongside other perks, like free accommodation at the pristine Admiralty House, staff and travel expenses, Ms Mostyn will also get a pension that will be 60 per cent of her salary for life.

“In my view it’s parking even more money with people who are friendly to Labor,” Mr Marlow said.

“The question is what is the money going to? She’s not an MP or minister or Prime Minister — she is a figurehead, she issues writs for elections, appoint ministers and go to different meet and greet events.

“We are paying her three quarters of a million dollars to bounce around at events.”

Mr Marlow is calling for Governor-General pensions to be abandoned just as political pensions were.

A government spokesman said since 1974 the Governor-General’s salary has been based on the Chief Justice of the High Court’s salary, which is set by the independent Remuneration Tribunal.

“In cases where the Governor-General has not been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements – such as a military pension – the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly.” they said.

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Originally published as New Governor-General’s $200k pay rise slammed as ‘indefensible’ as Albo’s words come back to haunt him