NSW election 2023: Labor, Coalition promise wage freezes to $600k senior executive jobs

The high-paid jobs attract eye-watering salaries; however, both major parties have promised to freeze wages and cut roles.

Senior public executives who can earn more than $600,000 will have their wages frozen for two years in an election policy put forward by NSW Labor it believes will save $500m.

Announced on Tuesday, the temporary two-year wage freeze will impact more than 3600 senior executives in the NSW government who earn an average of $272,000.

There are 26 senior executive and director roles being advertised by the NSW government.

They include the Corrective Services NSW director infrastructure strategy and governance that commands a total remuneration package of $232,708 to $256,811 depending on the applicant’s experience.

Another role as the Ministry of Health executive director also offers between $289,631 to $325,785 and lists its responsibilities as providing “expertise and strategic advice to relevant ministers” to inform policy and services and ensure regulatory requirements are met.

A senior executive job being advertised by the NSW government. Picture: Supplied

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said the savings would allow the government to “prioritise what’s important” like funding more extra frontline services, schools and hospitals.

“As interest rates go up again, family budgets are tightening, and the same goes for governments,” he said.

“I want every dollar available to go into fixing our schools and our hospitals and paying our paramedics, teachers, nurses, police officers and other frontline staff that we so desperately need.”

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said the $500m in taxpayer savings could go towards funding schools, essential services and hospitals. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Labor said it would also reduce senior public servant positions by 15 per cent through employees who would not be replaced leaving their roles.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet defended the 34 per cent increase in senior roles since 2019, saying they were necessary while the state battled droughts, bushfires, floods and Covid.

“We’ve faced in our state unprecedented challenges over the last four years. You build a public service to look after the people of NSW,” he said.

The government matched Labor’s pay freeze promise and said it would cut senior executive roles by 20 per cent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

On Tuesday, the government vowed to cut senior executive roles by 20 per cent, excluding roles in emergency services, police and integrity agencies. It will also adopt Labor’s pay freeze on senior executive and politician salaries.

Shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the salary of one top executive could fund the pay of multiple essential workers.

“The salary we pay one of these top executives could have hired either two brand new teachers or two paramedics,” he said.

“The NSW government already offers some of the best pay for senior executives across the public service and the wage freeze will still allow us to attract the best talent.”