Revealed: Highest-paid Victorian, federal MPs during 2021
These Victorian MPs and senior ministers have enjoyed generous pay rises, with Premier Daniel Andrews awarded a sharp wage increase this year.
Victoria
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Victorian MPs and senior ministers have enjoyed generous pay rises since handing over control of their wages to an independent tribunal — with the base salary of a state politician $23,784 higher than it was at the start of 2019.
Despite taking pay decisions away from politicians, the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal has steadily raised the take-home pay of MPs and the additional wages they collect for special roles.
In June this year, state politicians were handed a $5000 pay rise, drawing the ire of the public after so many lost their jobs throughout Covid.
While many MPs committed to donating the increase to charity, the basic salary of a backbencher with no other responsibilities remains at $186,973 per year.
But many earn more than this because they have roles on committees and other titles.
Premier Daniel Andrews pockets a whopping $452,475, the largest of any state leader, and a sharp increase from the $394,917 he received in 2019.
Deputy Premier James Merlino earns at least $385,000 while Health Minister Martin Foley takes home more than $360,858. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy receives the same amount as Mr Foley.
Nazih Elasmar, who is the president of the Legislative Council, and Colin Brooks, the Speaker in the Legislative Assembly, both take home $330,942.
On top of their salaries, state MPs also receive generous allowances for their electorate offices, motor vehicles and more than $10,000 for international travel.
But federal politicians haven’t had a pay rise since 2019, with their base salary remaining at $211,250.
Scott Morrison remains the highest paid, earning at least $549,250 a year.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is the second highest at $433,062, followed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on $396,093.
Health Minister Greg Hunt — who worked day and night during the pandemic — and other cabinet ministers earn $364,406 a year.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is paid $390,812, while Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt is on at least $301,031.
But that’s not all, with federal politicians receiving at least $32,000 in electorate allowances, as well as travel and the option for a vehicle.
Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance chief Gabe Buckley said it was important to offer “competitive” salaries “if the sort of person we want to encourage into politics is the sort of high calibre individual who could command a generous six-figure salary in private enterprise”.
“I don’t believe Australian politics is so awash with talented and dedicated politicians that we need to make it less attractive,” he said.
ANU Emeritus Professor John Wanna pointed out that politicians were “paid a lot less than the senior public servants they are working with”.
“The Prime Minister’s head of department earns more than the prime minister,” he said.
“Most heads of department earn more than their ministers.”
Federal politicians are also paid significantly less than the heads of government-owned entities Australia Post and the NBN.
Postal service boss Paul Graham has a base salary of $1.4m, while NBN chief Stephen Rue received a whopping $3.1m in 2020.
Prof Wanna said a “risk factor” was built into the salaries of MPs because they could be voted out.
“Most are earning the biggest salary of their careers,” he said.
“I’ve never read anything that says increasing the pay for politicians will increase the talent.”
“I think parliamentarians go into politics for other things other than money.”
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