Qld premier queries federal pay tribunal

The Queensland premier has questioned the independence of the federal independent pay tribunal, after the prime minister requested a freeze.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has questioned the independence of the remuneration tribunal that sets federal MPs' pay.

The tribunal on Monday froze the salaries of federal politicians and senior public servants for a year from July 1, after a last-minute request from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Mr Abbott had been in line to pocket an extra $10,000 a year and backbenchers $3900 but he argued they should lead by example in a time of budget constraint.

The Queensland government faced pressure in March to reject massive pay hikes handed out by the state's new independent pay tribunal.

Mr Newman's annual salary rose by $67,525 and opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk scored an extra $79,464.

Despite the prime minister's intervention, Mr Newman says he won't be following his lead.

"It doesn't sound like a very independent tribunal to me," he said.

"We have an independent tribunal and Queensland politicians don't set their own pay any more. That's the way we set it up, that's the way it's going to be."


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world