Public servants to have pay frozen under coronavirus conditions

Bureaucrats will “help share the economic burden” from the coronavirus pandemic.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Ben Morton.

Australia’s public servants will have their salaries frozen to “help share the economic burden” from the coronavirus pandemic, after the Morrison government announced pay rises would be deferred for six months.

The deferral of wage increases will begin on 14 April and remain in effect for a year, meaning any public servant whose pay rise is due within that time frame will have it delayed by six months from the due date.

“The Australian Public Service remains a critical part of our efforts to minimise the impacts on COVID-19 on the Australian economy for workers and their families. Everyone from the Prime Minister down appreciates the outstanding work the APS is doing,” Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton said.

“Every APS employee will have someone in their families, or know someone, affected by the current economic circumstances. While communities are doing it tough, it’s important the APS helps share the economic burden.”

The government has already frozen pay rises for hundreds of top public servants, including politicians, judges and ministerial staff.

The Community and Public Sector Union declared the wage freeze “just doesn’t make sense” when the government was spending billions of dollars to stimulate the economy and keep people spending.

The union urged the government to immediately reverse its decision.

“There is no doubt that our members are working longer and harder than ever before, to try to meet this unprecedented surge in demand for government services,” CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said.

“That is why it is so very disappointing that the Morrison government’s response to COVID-19 is to freeze the wages of public sector workers who are holding our community together.

“All of Australia can see that Services Australia workers are slugging their guts out in the middle of a pandemic. The ATO is helping small business accessing programs to keep their doors open and their employees paid. Across the country, our members are working to keep the nation moving.”

Mr Morton has also asked APS commissioner Peter Woolcott to write to non-APS agencies “informing them of the government’s expectations of them to implement a six-month deferral as well”.

Mr Woolcott will exercise his authority under the government’s bargaining policy to ensure new wage proposals approved for public servants during the next year are consistent with an expectation of a six-month deferral of pay rises.

“Our intention is to return to what has been a very successful public sector wages policy as soon as is possible, but we will continue to monitor the economic outlook and respond as necessary,” Mr Morton said.