‘Everyone gets a prize’: Almost all Coalition MPs earning well above base salary

All but one NSW Coalition MP has been awarded a parliamentary promotion to boost their base salary, with Premier Dominic Perrottet also appointing a record number of ministers to his cabinet.

More than $750,000 is being spent on extra salary and allowances for Coalition backbenchers who have been awarded parliamentary secretary and committee chair roles, among other positions.

The NSW cabinet at Government House in October 2021.

NSW MPs earn a base salary of $169,000, with a parliamentary secretary pocketing an extra $32,000, in salary and allowances, while committee chairs receive an additional $21,000.

The promotions have been extended to all five new Coalition MPs, who were elected to the Legislative Assembly after the February byelections or have recently filled vacancies in the parliament’s upper house.

As the state government faces mounting pressure to scrap its 2.5 per cent cap on public sector wages, opposition leader Chris Minns said Perrottet needed to extend pay rises to healthcare workers and other public servants.

“Everyone gets a prize, no one misses out. At the same time, the Liberals and Nationals spend all of their time suppressing wages for essential service workers,” Minns said.

“It’s extraordinary that the premier’s priority is getting his MPs extra salary and promotions while continuing to hold essential service and health workers at a 2.5 per cent wage increase.”

The government’s allocation of parliamentary roles is expected to come under scrutiny at Thursday’s budget estimates hearing for the premier, which was delayed due to last month’s floods.

A NSW government spokesman said a wide variety of jobs needed to be undertaken by MPs, and the positions were provided with additional salaries at rates set by the independent NSW Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal.

“In relation to committee chairs, these are set by either statute law or by a decision of the respective houses of parliament. There has been an increase in the number of committees appointed by the respective houses of parliament, most noticeably in the legislative council, where the government does not have a majority,” the spokesman said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet with new members of cabinet in December 2021.Credit: Anna Kucera

The NSW cabinet has also grown to 26 members, two higher than the record number unveiled by former premier Gladys Berejiklian after the 2019 election.

NSW government ministers receive an extra $140,000 in salary and allowances on top of their base wage, while senior ministers are paid an extra $160,000.

Committee chairs helm parliamentary bodies tasked with reviewing proposed laws and scrutinising public sector performance, while parliamentary secretaries provide assistance to ministers in their portfolios. Members of the opposition and crossbench also chair several committees.

The only Coalition MP earning just the base salary is the member for East Hills Wendy Lindsay, who was also a committee chair until March. The additional wages for MPs range from just under $5000 for a member of the public accountability committee, to $238,000 for the premier.

Opposition analysis of the state government cabinet shows there are no Liberal women in senior leadership positions, while just over 20 per cent of Liberal ministers are women. Three of eight Nationals MPs are women, while the party’s senior leadership is split 50-50.

“Instead of lecturing private companies on appointing female directors, the premier and treasurer should lead by example and appoint more women to senior leadership positions, starting with the cabinet,” Minns said.

Women make up 40 per cent of the Labor caucus, and 48 per cent of its shadow cabinet. The opposition has ruled out extending salary sweeteners to all of its MPs if elected.

All NSW MPs also receive a base electoral allowance between $50,000 and $145,000 in the legislative assembly and $60,000 in the legislative council.

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