Top public servants earn more than their ministers

Almost all of Queensland’s top public servants are earning more money than the state government ministers they serve, with some taking home upwards of half a million dollars a year.

Almost all of Queensland’s top public servants are earning more money than the state government ministers they serve, with some taking home upwards of half a million dollars a year.

Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Rachel Hunter was the highest earner among the state’s directors-general in 2021-22 – receiving a total pay packet of $771,000.

In contrast, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s salary currently sits at $427,561 per year – although this does not include her superannuation payments.

Department of Premier and Cabinet Director-General Rachel Hunter

Paul Martyn, Director-General, Department of Energy and Public Works

High ranking public servant Mike Kaiser – who was director-general of the Resources Department until he was appointed to head up State Development last May – made more than $500,000 in 2021-22.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles – who is the Minister responsible for the State Development Department – makes about $376,070 per year excluding his superannuation.

Other top earners of over $600,000 a year – which include all their entitlements – are Public Service Commission chief executive Robert Setter and Transport Department director-general Neil Scales.

Data in the Queensland Police Service annual report shows Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll’s total pay packet reached $615,000 in 2021-22 – which was $57,000 more than the year before.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll

Director General of the Department of Justice and Attorney-general David Mackie

Last year, the Palaszczuk Government was accused of a “disgusting” gender pay equality fail because Ms Carroll was hired for a whopping $103,000 less than her predecessor, Ian Stewart.

Ms Carroll appointed on $517,000 in July 2019, following the retirement of Ian Stewart, who was earning $619,000 at the time.

According to Queensland Police Service annual reports, in Mr Stewart’s first full financial year in the top job in 2013-14, he took home $548,000, which was $31,000 more than his successor earned in her first year.

Equality experts at the time said it was “not a good look for the government” to start a woman on less than a man.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Greg Leach’s total pay packet for 2021-22 was $525,000 – which was also up about $34,000 from 2020-21.

The minister that Ms Carroll and Mr Leach report to – Police Minister Mark Ryan – earns less than both of them with a salary of $350,324 without including his superannuation.

According to the Environment Department’s annual report, director-general Jamie Merrick’s total remuneration last financial year was $471,000, which was up from $456,000 the year prior.

Department of Education director-general Michael De’Ath made $422,000 in his first seven months on the job, while Agriculture Department director-general Bob Gee earned $439,000 for all of 2021-22.

Service Commission chief executive Robert Setter

Mike Kaiser, Director-General of Queensland’s Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

In comparison both Education Minister Grace Grace and Agriculture Minister Mark Furner earn a ministerial salary of $350,324 per year excluding superannuation.

In a statement, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said an “independent work value assessment” is conducted by Mercer Consulting to determine the appropriate band each director-general and commissioner is assigned to under a Chief Executive Remuneration Framework.

“(The Chief Executive Remuneration Framework) is conservatively competitive against the market and major public service jurisdictions, so Queensland can recruit and retain the best possible public sector leaders,” the PSC said in its statement.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Greg Leach

Neil Scales, the Director-General of Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Road

“The remuneration framework for chief executives provides flexibility in order to allow the Queensland government to attract and retain talented chief executives.”

The PSC said remuneration rates were negotiated at the time of the person’s appointment to the role, and it could depend on a “variety of factors”.

“Remuneration levels might be increased based on factors such as increased work value of the roles and proven experience and performance of the chief executives,” the PSC said.

Originally published as Top public servants earn more than their ministers