Cashed-up public servants set for mammoth pay rises as Victorians faced hike road toll fees
While Victorians are set to pay increased road tolls and council rates from July 1, top-tier government workers are pegged for serious pay rises — with some totalling tens of thousands of dollars.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorians face hip pocket hits due to increased road tolls and council rates from next week.
But state fees that usually rise on July 1 by the value of inflation have been frozen, meaning car registration and other charges won’t increase.
With families tightening their belts during the coronavirus crisis, hundreds of senior public servants in Victoria are preparing for a massive pay increase on July 1.
This includes a handful of executives in departments and state agencies who will earn up to $48,000 more due to their salary bands being lifted on July 1 by the state’s remuneration tribunal.
Those executives, who have a salary range of between $312,274 and $457,081, have a new salary range of between $360,001 and $479,900.
The tribunal said senior public servants’ roles were more complex and their work undervalued. It is the same panel that granted generous pay rises for politicians, including $46,000 for Premier Daniel Andrews.
Mr Andrews and his ministers decided to give their pay rises to charity this year, with Foodbank, Domestic Violence Victoria and Berry Street among the non-profits MPs can choose to donate to.
Councils have the green light to hike property rates by up to two per cent from July 1, while in Warrnambool, Towong and West Wimmera councils can hike by more than the two per cent cap.
CityLink day passes rise from $18.70 to $18.89 on July 1, while a one-way trip along the tollway costs $9.85.
Essendon West mum-of-three Jennifer Del Mastro said she was surprised to learn some costs were rising.
“Lifestyle just keeps going up for families, though we live in a suburb that is fairly well off and I’ve still got my job, salaries can only be stretched so far,” she said. “We still have mortgage and bills to pay, I would have thought in this time of COVID they would freeze any increase in rates, at least for six months.”
Shadow Treasurer Louise Staley said the Liberal Nationals wanted rates and tolls frozen because “the timing couldn’t be worse”.
“With thousands of small businesses just days away from being slugged payroll tax again, it’s little wonder Victorians have lost confidence in Daniel Andrews handling the economy,” she said.
But a government spokesman said state charges such as registration were frozen because “the last thing Victorian businesses and families need right now is higher fees and fines”.
“These changes will make sure we’re supporting Victorians to get through to the other side of this crisis,” he said.
MORE NEWS
UP TO 30PC OF QUARANTINED RETURNED TRAVELLERS REFUSING TESTS
MORRISON SAYS RESTRICTIONS TO EASE DESPITE VICTORIA OUTBREAK