Post by rowdy on Jul 4, 2012 12:24:03 GMT 7
Pollie pay raise normal process: Swan
A day after the central bank warned domestic costs increases must slow to keep prices under control, it's been revealed federal politicians will get a pay rise almost double the rate of inflation.
THE independent Remuneration Tribunal has awarded federal MPs a three per cent - $5550 a year - wage increase, just three months after they pocketed a $44,000 annual salary boost.
Treasurer Wayne Swan defended the boost, saying the indexation of politicians' salaries to rises in the consumer price index was normal and occurred across the general workforce.
"There are people out there who will always say that any rise politicians get is not deserved," Mr Swan told Fairfax radio in Brisbane on Wednesday.
But independent senator Nick Xenophon said the increase was "embarrassing".
"Coming less than a week after the parliamentary paralysis in relation to asylum seekers, and only a few days after the introduction of the carbon tax, this will only fuel public anger at politicians generally," the South Australian senator said in a statement.
Senator Xenophon said he would continue to campaign for the tribunal to hold public hearings.
Australian Greens leader Christine Milne also criticised the decision.
"When the government is saying it can't afford to give people struggling on Newstart an extra $50 a week to just get up to liveable levels, and the minimum wage has only gone up $17.10 a week, a $100 a week pay rise for politicians is hardly appropriate," Senator Milne told News Ltd.
But former Labor powerbroker turned commentator Graham Richardson said politicians should be paid more.
"If you look around a couple of hundred companies, I wonder how many of them pay their chief less than a half a million dollars?" Mr Richardson said on Seven Network.
"I think the answer would be none."
Prime Minister Julia Gillard's salary will jump by $14,430 to $495,430 under this latest pay award.
Announcing a decision to leave the cash rate unchanged at its monthly board meeting on Tuesday, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens said maintaining low inflation over the longer term will require growth in domestic costs to slow to offset the waning impact of the earlier exchange rate appreciation.
Labor minister Bill Shorten said the MPs' pay rise was set by an independent tribunal, but conceded it came as many Australians were doing it tough.
"I think it's best that politicians don't get involved in the setting of their own wages," he told reporters in Sydney.
"The government, supported by the opposition, has made it very clear and passed regulations to the effect that the setting of remuneration for politicians, judges and others is done by an independent remuneration tribunal."
Mr Shorten appeared in front of an unfortunately timed backdrop, speaking at a Westpac press conference regarding lost and unclaimed superannuation.
Behind him was a huge pile of hundred dollar notes spelling out the word "Lost".
Mr Shorten also used the word "tax" in relation to the government's pricing of carbon - a rare instance of a government minister doing so.
"There's no question Australians are doing it tough," he added.
"That is why the government has put in place a range of measures.
"It's not just limited to the support we're giving families and industry to deal with the important development of putting a tax on carbon pollution."
Read more: www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/pollie-pay-raise-normal-process-swan/story-e6frfku9-1226416841140#ixzz1zd0yksKg
A day after the central bank warned domestic costs increases must slow to keep prices under control, it's been revealed federal politicians will get a pay rise almost double the rate of inflation.
THE independent Remuneration Tribunal has awarded federal MPs a three per cent - $5550 a year - wage increase, just three months after they pocketed a $44,000 annual salary boost.
Treasurer Wayne Swan defended the boost, saying the indexation of politicians' salaries to rises in the consumer price index was normal and occurred across the general workforce.
"There are people out there who will always say that any rise politicians get is not deserved," Mr Swan told Fairfax radio in Brisbane on Wednesday.
But independent senator Nick Xenophon said the increase was "embarrassing".
"Coming less than a week after the parliamentary paralysis in relation to asylum seekers, and only a few days after the introduction of the carbon tax, this will only fuel public anger at politicians generally," the South Australian senator said in a statement.
Senator Xenophon said he would continue to campaign for the tribunal to hold public hearings.
Australian Greens leader Christine Milne also criticised the decision.
"When the government is saying it can't afford to give people struggling on Newstart an extra $50 a week to just get up to liveable levels, and the minimum wage has only gone up $17.10 a week, a $100 a week pay rise for politicians is hardly appropriate," Senator Milne told News Ltd.
But former Labor powerbroker turned commentator Graham Richardson said politicians should be paid more.
"If you look around a couple of hundred companies, I wonder how many of them pay their chief less than a half a million dollars?" Mr Richardson said on Seven Network.
"I think the answer would be none."
Prime Minister Julia Gillard's salary will jump by $14,430 to $495,430 under this latest pay award.
Announcing a decision to leave the cash rate unchanged at its monthly board meeting on Tuesday, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens said maintaining low inflation over the longer term will require growth in domestic costs to slow to offset the waning impact of the earlier exchange rate appreciation.
Labor minister Bill Shorten said the MPs' pay rise was set by an independent tribunal, but conceded it came as many Australians were doing it tough.
"I think it's best that politicians don't get involved in the setting of their own wages," he told reporters in Sydney.
"The government, supported by the opposition, has made it very clear and passed regulations to the effect that the setting of remuneration for politicians, judges and others is done by an independent remuneration tribunal."
Mr Shorten appeared in front of an unfortunately timed backdrop, speaking at a Westpac press conference regarding lost and unclaimed superannuation.
Behind him was a huge pile of hundred dollar notes spelling out the word "Lost".
Mr Shorten also used the word "tax" in relation to the government's pricing of carbon - a rare instance of a government minister doing so.
"There's no question Australians are doing it tough," he added.
"That is why the government has put in place a range of measures.
"It's not just limited to the support we're giving families and industry to deal with the important development of putting a tax on carbon pollution."
Read more: www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/pollie-pay-raise-normal-process-swan/story-e6frfku9-1226416841140#ixzz1zd0yksKg
