Basin chief Phillip Glyde earns $488,152 amid Murray-Darling drought
Amid a drought that slashed irrigators’ incomes, the boss of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Phillip Glyde, had his salary and other remuneration rise to an eye-watering amount.
EXCLUSIVE: MURRAY-Darling Basin Authority chief executive Phillip Glyde’s remuneration rose to almost half a million dollars last financial year, in the midst of a drought that slashed irrigators’ incomes.
The MDBA’s 2019-20 annual report shows Mr Glyde’s remuneration of $488,152 included a base salary of $382,769, plus $65,344 in superannuation, $35,084 in annual leave entitlements and $4955 in allowances and other benefits.
Ultimately it is basin irrigators who pay Mr Glyde and his team’s wages through levies state government impose on state water authorities and corporations, who in turn collect the funding through fixed charges on delivery shares.
Surprisingly Mr Glyde’s 2019-20 remuneration was up 7.8 per cent on the $452,763 he earned in 2018-19, despite basin irrigation communities going through one of their toughest years.
Former MDBA Science, Knowledge and Engagement executive director Carl Binning managed to take home $226,748 for five months work, after walking out the door in November 2019, compared to his full year’s remuneration of $411,413 in 2018-19.
Other executives did well on the back of irrigator contributions, with MDBA River Management executive director Andrew Reynolds earning $370,395 and Corporate Strategy and Services chief operating officer Annette Blyton earning $354,406.
On average, the MDBA’s 264 staff, from the front desk to the executive suites, earned an average of $145,530 in 2019-20.
An MDBA spokeswoman said Mr Glyde’s total remuneration has not changed since July 1, 2019.
“The difference between the chief executive’s reported remuneration in 2018-19 and 2019-20 was due to a 2 per cent rise in total remuneration provided by an independent remuneration tribunal determination on 1 July 2019,” the spokeswoman said.
“The other 5.8 per cent — which is not take home pay — reflects an accounting treatment for other elements of his entitlements, including unused annual leave.
“Senior executives in larger departments are paid more than senior executives at the MDBA.
As for the cost to irrigators the MDBA spokeswoman said “less than one quarter of the chief executive’s costs are attributed to the state governments, under the Joint Program arrangements to manage the water of the River Murray”.
“The Victorian, NSW and South Australian state governments each decide the degree to which they pass these costs to irrigators.”
But Victorian Farmers Federation water council chairman Richard Anderson said big salaries during the drought was not a good look.
“When times are tough you have to pull your belt in, the same as farmers,” Mr Anderson said.
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