Tasmanian politicians pay is the lowest in the nation

Tasmania’s political leaders are the lowest paid in the nation – but many are still paid hundreds of thousands of dollars and benefits. See the big list of how much each politician is paid >>

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TASMANIA’S state MPs are the lowest-paid in the nation, a new report has revealed.

The state’s Industrial Commission is reviewing the way salaries and allowances are set for the 25 House of Assembly and 15 Legislative Council parliamentarians.

But it says it hasn’t heard from many people with a strong opinion on the topic.

“Submissions have been previously invited with very little response,” the Commissioners note in an issues paper published on its website.

Tasmania’s MPs receive a base salary of $140,185.

Members also receive an electorate allowance of up to $53,000 and a vehicle allowance of $15,000, plus communications expenses.

Some receive a Bass Strait travelling allowance and an entertainment allowance.

There are loadings for various jobs with extra responsibility: the Premier receives an extra $161,212 on top of his basic salary and ministers receive an additional $98,219 for taking on the job.

The closest comparable state is Western Australia, which pays a base salary of $156,536. South Australia pays its state politicians the highest base salary, $178,507 and federal MPs receive $207,100, the issues paper says.

Tasmania has the smallest state parliament, but members also represent the fewest numbers of electors per member. NSW MPs represent three times as many voters on average.

One respondent said this meant they should get a pay cut.

“Tasmanian parliamentarians have less responsibility and have to work less assiduously, than their national counterparts,” he said.

“On these criteria alone, Tasmanian parliamentary salaries should be reduced not increased.”

In its submission, Unions Tasmania said some members had seen their pay rise by 12 per cent in recent years, while other public sector workers had received just six per cent.

“While most workers in the private and public sectors have had to justify ‘productivity gains’ or other savings in order to win sometimes meagre wage raises, no such trade-off occurs with MP salaries,” the submission said.

The commission notes that MPs need to display a broad range of skills including leadership skills; community representation skills; interpersonal skills; negotiation and influencing skills; debating skills; speaking in public; research and analytical skills; IT-related skills; chairing skills and knowledge of the way government works.

In her submission, Legislative Council member for McIntyre Tania Rattray said MPs should get three months pay when they leave parliament.

Tasmanian members of parliament do not receive a payout when they are voted out, Federal MPs get up to six months pay and West Australian MPs get up to nine months pay when they’re turfed out.

One public submission noted that MPs receive almost 400 per cent of the minimum wage and were eligible for Jobseeker like everyone else.

In his submission, Legislative Council member for Windermere Ivan Dean, said he should get an increase in his electorate allowance of $32,394 because the size of the electorate had increased from of 816 square kilometres to 2047 square kilometres.

The Industrial Commission has asked for people who have an opinion about the questions is raises in its issues paper on politicians pay and allowances to make a submission by

Friday, December 4.

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