NSW taxpayers pay for two new commissioners every year, with the Minns government creating six

NSW governments have hired an average of two new commissioners every year for the last 13 years. See how much they get paid.

Taxpayers in NSW have had to shoulder the cost of an average of two new commissioners every year for the last 13 years, with six new commissioners created by the Minns government since they took office.

The state’s bureaucracy currently has more than 37 highly paid commissioners overseeing various departments including one for strata and property services and another for point-to-point transport such as taxis and Ubers.

While the majority of Commissioners were created by former Liberal governments, including more than 22 since 2011, another six have been created since 2023 despite Premier Chris Minns promising to reduce the number of senior executives in the public service.

This year alone the Minns government appointed three Treaty Commissioners to go around the state and consult with Indigenous communities about the creation of a state-based treaty. Each Treaty Commissioner earns between $93,295 – $102,941 per year. The government also appointed Trina Jones as the new Rental Commissioner this year, earning a pay packet originally advertised between $309,153 and $345,307. Additionally a new Net-Zero Commissioner was hired to the tune of $60,000.

NSW Rental Commissioner, Trina Jones earns between a pay scale of $309,153- $345,307. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Some Commissioners currently earn more than the Premier, who sits on $416,440 per year to run the state.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb earns more than $679,000, while the Night-Time Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues earns between a pay scale of $361,301 and $509,250. Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann earns a similar amount.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb earns more than the Premier on more than $679,000. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

While adding six commissioners in 18 months, the Premier also abolished five overseas Senior Trade and Investment Commissioners after the roles were drawn into scandal when former deputy Premier John Barilaro was appointed to a New York trade position in 2022.

A NSW government spokesperson said despite the number of commissioners in the state increasing there had still been major reductions of other senior executive positions throughout the public sector.

“While the former Liberal National Government oversaw a 36% increase in senior executive positions in their last term, the Minns Labor Government has this year overseen the first reduction in these positions in recent history,” the spokesperson said.

NSW 24-hour economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Independent MP Rod Roberts said while some Commissioner roles were important for the state, taxpayers were forking out for the salaries of too many commissioners whose jobs could be handled by the relevant minister.

“I don’t know why we need a 24-hour Night Time Commissioner, or a Commissioner for Small Business – we have a whole government department related to that,” he said.

Former NSW Small Business Commissioner Chris Lamont. Picture: Supplied

While the Small Business Commission says the Commissioner’s role is to work with government and industry groups to “reduce red tape” and make it easier for small businesses to operate, Mr Roberts said he believed some roles needed to be reviewed as to whether they were necessary. The Small Business Commission is currently rehiring for the $318,000 position after former Commissioner Chris Lamont left to work for the new Queensland government at the end of the year.

“I think it’s excessive, it’s not needed, where’s the demonstration of the need for them?” Mr Roberts said.

“This is contrary to Minns’s election promise of reducing high paid bureaucracy roles.”

Originally published as NSW taxpayers pay for two new commissioners every year, with the Minns government creating six