https://7news.com.au/politics/federal-politics/federal-mp-ken-wyatt-doubles-down-on-call-for-politicians-to-be-given-a-pay-rise-to-attract-talent-c-6617519A federal MP says politicians’ salaries should be higher to attract better talent.
West Australian Liberal MP Ken Wyatt on Thursday reiterated his long-held belief that a pay rise would improve the quality of politicians.
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Federal politicians have a base salary of $211,250 per year, plus superannuation.
Cabinet ministers, like Wyatt, receive more for managing portfolios.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt. Credit: LUKAS COCH/AAPIMAGE
The Australian on Thursday reported that Wyatt believed the base salary should be increased.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
“His comments were in relation to 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.
“It’s ultimately about serving the community, and that’s why he put up his hand to represent Hasluck and is now delivering on his plan.”
A general view of the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE
The comments come as wage growth stagnates across the country.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics earlier this year said its wage price index rose 0.7 per cent in the December quarter, to be 2.3 per cent higher than a year earlier.
That’s the highest since the pandemic began - but still lags well behind the inflation rate.
The ABS on Wednesday said inflation had hit 5.1 per cent, the highest point in more than 20 years.
Labor is campaigning hard on improving wage growth, with leader Anthony Albanese saying the government is “always about the promise, never about the delivery”.
“This happens every single budget and every single time the plan and the projection don’t meet the reality,” he told reporters in Sydney, adding that the government had missed the mark on wage projections 52 times out of 55 attempts.
