REVEALED: Who signed up to the NT Government’s executive pay freeze?

JUST 58 per cent of the Territory’s 630 public service executives — some of whom earn more than $400,000 a year — have signed up to the Labor Government’s pay freeze

Just 58 per cent of the Territory’s 630 public service executives — some of whom earn more than $400,000 a year — have signed up to the Labor Government’s pay freeze

• NT Budget: Gunner says executives must take pay freeze
• GUNNER accused of misleading public over politician pay freezes

JUST 58 per cent of the Territory’s 630 public service executives — some of whom earn more than $400,000 a year — have signed up to the Labor Government’s pay freeze.

The NT News can reveal the health, education and Legislative Assembly departments are home to the most holdouts.

Only 33 per cent of the 120 executives in education — most of whom are principals — signed up to the freeze while 38 per cent of the 39 health executives agreed.

None of three executives in the Department of Legislative Assembly agreed to take the freeze.

Just 36 per cent of those employed by the Territory’s government owned corporations, including Power and Water and Territory Generation, signed up.

Treasury was the only department to have a 100 per cent uptake — all 17 of its executives agreed to take the freeze.

The Department of Chief Minister was the next best performing with 94 per cent, followed by Territory Families with 86 per cent.

Fifty-seven per cent of Police, Fire and Emergency Services executives agreed to the freeze.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the three-year pay freeze for public service executives and Territory pollies in April as part of Labor’s “budget repair” plan.

The government says it will save $25 million across three years.

But convincing executives to voluntarily sacrifice their locked in 2.5 per cent pay rises has been a tough slog.

Obstinate executives will either not be offered another contract at the end of their current term or will have their pay drop back to 2019 levels for four years if they do stay on.

NT News tablet art

CLICK HERE for full details on our tablet offer above

The Government would make its $25 million saving “either way”, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.

“Territorians expect that politicians and senior executives will do their fair share of the heavy lifting for budget repair,” Mr Gunner said.

Salaries for executives range from $190,000 to more than $400,000.

Mr Gunner said the freeze was on track to meet its saving target.

“The ECO attrition rate is 19 per cent a year, meaning with a 58 per cent upfront sign up we are ahead of where we need to be when taking into account natural turnover for the three years,” he said.

School principals have been the biggest hold outs.

The Education Union previously urged its members not to sign up to the freeze.

The freeze was recommended as part of former West Australian under treasurer John Langoulant review of the Territory’s dire fiscal situation.