Tasmania's governor Kate Warner has been in the job five months and already she earns more than some of Australia's most senior public figures, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
The former university law professor and grandmother, 66, now known as Her Excellency, has a salary of $570,000 for the current financial year.
And according to Tasmania's 2015/16 budget, released on Thursday, she's in line for a $41,000 pay rise from July 1.
But the good news doesn't stop there for the governor, who, as part of the job lives in the majestic stone Government House overlooking Hobart's Derwent River.
Over the forward estimates, she's up for a $69,000 pay rise, which will see her salary balloon to $680,000 for the 2018/19 financial year.
Even before the increases, Prof Warner takes home more than Mr Abbott, although the prime minister's half-million dollar income is topped up by accommodation, food, travel and other allowances.
When appointed to the role of Australian governor-general in 2014, Peter Cosgrove's Commonwealth-funded military pension was taken into account and his salary was set at $425,000.
In Queensland and South Australia, the governor's pay is set as a percentage of the salaries paid to Supreme Court judges.
In Western Australia, the governor's salary was set at $400,000 in 2011 and indexed each year, Fairfax has reported.
Professor Warner has been appointed to a five-year term as Tasmanian governor.
On Friday she will host school children in the grounds of Government House for an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea event, raising money for the Cancer Council.
BIG BUCKS: SALARIES OF PUBLIC FIGURES
* Tasmanian governor Kate Warner: $570,000
* Australian prime minister Tony Abbott: $507,338
* Australian governor-general Peter Cosgrove: $425,000
* NSW governor David Hurley: $445,100
* QLD governor Paul De Jersey: $479,327
Share
