Union rally in Qld over wage deal

More than a thousand public servants rallied outside Queensland parliament as the state government tried to undo the political damage caused by a massive MP pay hike.

Chanting "Campbell Newman come outside, come and tell us why you lied", unionists said they are angrier than ever about the government's job cuts, privatisation plans and the $57,000 pay increase awarded to state MPs.

"Many of you would earn less than that," Together president Vivienne Doogan told the masses.

"They should only get a pay rise they are willing to give you, the workers."

Mr Newman on Tuesday introduced new legislation to reverse the controversial pay rise granted to politicians last month.

The bill ensures MPs' salaries, allowances and entitlements are set by an independent tribunal.

A new pay scale will be released by October 15.

Mr Newman said the tribunal's decision would be binding, ruling out any possibility of interference by MPs.

"The level of salaries and allowances has long been a vexed issue in Australia and around the world," he told parliament.

"It is clear that it is no longer tenable for Queensland MPs to be linked to the Commonwealth parliament.

"We are sorting this mess out once and for all, in a totally independent fair and transparent manner."

If the tribunal decides to substantially increase pay rates, no current or former MPs will be able to claim back pay beyond July 1 this year.

Mr Newman was on holiday when cabinet approved the whopping 42 per cent pay rise.

It said it had no choice after being told a 2009 wage freeze by the former Labor government breached laws linking state MPs' pay with that of their federal counterparts.

But it was left to the Opposition to reveal the full extent of the rise, with MPs on committees or serving as ministers to get far more .

In the case of Mr Newman, it would have boosted his salary by $120,00, putting him on par with US President Barack Obama.