The independent tribunal that sets politician pay has determined to give federal MPs a 4 per cent pay rise, saying previous pay increases have been conservative.
The median personal income is less than $50K when you take into account unemployed and retired and other income streams, so it’s closer to 10X of the median Australian.
I suspect you are talking about the median Jobs in Australia rather than Personal Income in Australia.
Honestly I’d rather see politician remuneration indexed to minimum wage. I suspect tying the wealth of the decision makers to the minimum wage might actually make a difference to the average Australian.
Where does that point stop though? If people are in it to make money they’ll take every opportunity to make more and this has been proven time and time and again.
Maybe if a base pay of $200K isn’t enough for them they’d just leave politics altogether and make room for people who want to help their local community?
Fair point, I was talking about the PM’s pay. The idea that a federal politician’s value (pay is literally the way to compare your perceived value to society) is even over 4 times more than half of your countrymen is an interesting thought to reckon with.
Based on the determination, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s salary will increase from $564,356 to $586,930, and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s salary will increase from $401,561 to $417,623.
MPs will have a base pay of $225,742, up from $217,060 — though they can receive additional pay depending on whether they hold a ministry or shadow ministry, chair a committee, or act as speakers or party whips.
The median personal income is less than $50K when you take into account unemployed and retired and other income streams, so it’s closer to 10X of the median Australian.
I suspect you are talking about the median Jobs in Australia rather than Personal Income in Australia.
Honestly I’d rather see politician remuneration indexed to minimum wage. I suspect tying the wealth of the decision makers to the minimum wage might actually make a difference to the average Australian.
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions
won’t they just be more reliant on lobbying gifts to compensate?
Where does that point stop though? If people are in it to make money they’ll take every opportunity to make more and this has been proven time and time and again.
Maybe if a base pay of $200K isn’t enough for them they’d just leave politics altogether and make room for people who want to help their local community?
From what I can tell, MPs earn about $200,000. 200/50=4?
Fair point, I was talking about the PM’s pay. The idea that a federal politician’s value (pay is literally the way to compare your perceived value to society) is even over 4 times more than half of your countrymen is an interesting thought to reckon with.