Barnaby Joyce cries poor on salary of $211,250

Barnaby Joyce says he struggles on $211,250, but he takes home more money than that.

Barnaby Joyce — who this morning declared he is struggling to get by on his salary — earns a package of more than $280,000 a year, including his electorate allowance and his fee for being the chair of a parliamentary committee.

The former deputy prime minister is paid a base of $211,250 and receives an extra $23,237 for being the chair of the parliamentary committee on industry, innovation, science and resources.

The New England MP pockets an electorate allowance of $46,000 per year, which is paid directly into his bank account. It is supposed to cover the costs of travelling in his electorate for the year, but Mr Joyce is able to keep money he does not spend.

Earlier this month, Mr Joyce defended keeping the unused electoral allowance because “if I went back as an accountant I would be paid more”.

The former Nationals leader promised to reorganise his finances after it was revealed he was paying rent on his Armidale home from an account set up to manage his electoral allowance.

Mr Joyce told The Courier Mail today he is “spread so thin” by supporting his ex-wife and youngest daughter as well as his current partner Vikki Campion and his young sons on his post-cabinet resignation salary.

“It’s not that I’m not getting money it’s just that it’s spread so thin,” he told the Courier Mail.

“I’m just saying these circumstances have made me more vastly attuned … it’s just a great exercise in humility going from deputy prime minister to watching every dollar you get.

“So the big thrill of the day to be honest is a cup of coffee. We (he and Vikki) rarely if ever go out for dinner.

“You’re very mindful of what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks and try to make sure I don’t miss any payments.

“There has to some purpose for everything. The purpose of this — I’m a lot more focused on people who don’t have money.”

Barnaby Joyce just said he earned $211k as a backbencher on Sky. BS. Backbenck MPs earn over $280k #auspol

— Adam Creighton (@Adam_Creighton) July 28, 2019

Mr Joyce said he sometimes goes without heating and slaughters his own meat to feed the family as a result of the financial hit he took when he resigned last year.

.@Barnaby_Joyce on Newstart:

I’m on a good salary, and probably by my own circumstances it’s spread pretty thin. And if for me it’s spread thin, on an incredibly good salary, how is it going for other people. It must be pretty tough.

MORE: https://t.co/nteX0boCzW #firstedition pic.twitter.com/cguF1yx8ZY

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) July 28, 2019

But speaking on 2GB this morning, Mr Joyce said he was not asking for sympathy.

“There should be none because I’m on a very good wage, I’m certainly not skint,’’ he said.

“What I’m basically getting through is, obviously by my own circumstances, I’ve got two families.

“It’s not that I’m skint but things are a little bit tighter than one would expect and I’ve got to make ends meet.’’

The new circumstances have propelled him to break government ranks and back an increase to the dole.

MORE: Newstart recipients can’t eat or heat

Eighty-four per cent of Newstart recipients skip meals and 66 per cent don’t use heating in winter, according to a survey to be released today by the Australian Council of Social Service as Labor and lobby groups ramp up pressure on the government to increase the welfare payment.

"Where’s the tissues, my god!" @PaulineHansonOZ slams Barnaby Joyce over claims he's struggling to make ends meet on his $211,250 salary. #9Today pic.twitter.com/pY8xY8AhHN

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) July 28, 2019

Pauline Hanson supports his push to increase Newstart but the One Nation leader labelled Mr Joyce’s personal revelations “ridiculous and stupid.”

“He feels skint? Where are the tissues, my god?” the One Nation leader told the Nine Network.

“What a ridiculous, stupid way to explain himself and he is saying Newstart allowance, people need a helping hand, which I’ve been saying for some time now.”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann stared down Mr Joyce’s moves on increasing Newstart and said any changes to welfare would be determined on what was affordable for the budget.

“Newstart is not designed to be a replacement salary … 99 per cent of recipients of Newstart allowance are on other welfare payments,” Senator Cormann told ABC radio.

“We are spending more than a third of our budget on welfare. These sorts of judgments in the end do have to be made with a view of ensuring that our welfare budget are sustainable.

“We have to make judgments on what is affordable in the budget.”

Senator Cormann refused to comment on Mr Joyce’s revelations that he is struggling financially.

“I am not going to provide commentary on Barnaby’s commentary,” Senator Cormann said.