Scott Morrison has responded to reports that Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt is pushing for a pay rise for politicians.
Four years ago, Mr Wyatt said he wasn't aware what he earned but in order to attract high-quality political candidates, taxpayers needed to fork out more money.
“I’ve thought about this, and I think we don’t pay our politicians enough,’’ he said at the time.
“You want people who are going to go in and look after the interests of all Australians. I earned more as a public servant than as a backbencher. I look at the corporate sector and can’t see how you justify salaries of $18 million."
The Australian reported on Thursday that when approached about the comments, Mr Wyatt stood by his call, with a spokesperson saying that his comments were regarding "the decision he took to enter parliament."
"And the fact he earned more as a public servant (as director, Aboriginal Health, for Western Australia’s Department of Health) than as a backbencher," they said.
“Mr. Wyatt believes it’s important that our parliament attracts a diverse range of people, reflective of the Australian population. He is proud to be the first Indigenous Australian elected to the House of Representatives.
The dialogue comes as the worst inflation figures in more than two decades were released on Wednesday.
Scott Morrison says it's "simply false" that Ken Wyatt has stood by four year old comments about politician pay rises. Source: NITV News: Sarah Collard
At a press conference this morning in Launceston, NITV Political Correspondent Sarah Collard asked Mr Morrison if Wyatt's stance proves that his government is out of touch.
“Well, I have to correct you, he is not advocating that, he is not advocating that,” he replied.
“You are referring to comments made four years ago that have been dragged out and that is not his view.”
"These things are set by an independent tribunal, as they should be, it shouldn’t be set by politicians at all, and they aren’t.
“The suggestion that Ken is making those comments at this point in time is simply false.”
ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said Mr Wyatt would be "at the bottom" of a list of people deserving payrises.
"The Liberal MP for Hasluck says he should get a pay rise when he is on $426K. He says he works hard. Well so do aged care workers on $24/hour who can’t afford rent or food," she wrote.
NITV News has reached out to the Opposition for comment.
