Incoming governor-general Sam Mostyn is in line to receive a more than $200,000 pay bump compared to her predecessor when she steps into thenation’s highest office next week,with Coalition MPs and the republican movement uniting to blast the figure as “indefensible” during a cost-of-living crisis.
The Albanese government has justified the generous salary increase – representing a 43 per cent rise on the compensation former army general David Hurley received – becauseMs Mostynwill not receive the same military pension as he did, resulting in the remunerations being “adjusted accordingly”.
Labor needs legislation to pass parliament to set the new wage, with Peter Dutton yet to reveal his position, despite it being opposed by some Coalition backbenchers.
The government said theformer AFL commissioner’sremuneration had been set in line with past practice dictating the head of state’s salary needed to be higher than the chief justice of the High Court’s remuneration.
Chief Justice Stephen Gageler is paid $649,880 and will receive $769,989 in five years, or $708,017 on average.
Labor introduced the legislation to replace the governor-general’s current salary of $495,000 a year with the higher figure of $709,017 on the first day of the sitting fortnight, as Anthony Albanese commended General Hurley’s legacy of “quiet dignity and unbending duty” at the unveiling of the outgoing Governor-General’s portrait.
Less than a month after Ms Mostyn wasawarded the nation’s highest honouron the King’s Birthday, Assistant Public Service Minister Patrick Gorman said he trusted the Coalition and the Greens would overlook “day-to-day politics” and support the legislation setting the salary, which parliament is obliged to pass under the Constitution.
“I’m confident members will meet their obligations under the Constitution and recognise that what the government is putting forward is no different to what previous governments have put forward,” he told Sky News.
“The only difference being that would take into account military pensions and other sorts of commonwealth pensions and previous appointments, that’s the right thing to do. And the comparator that we use by the chief justice of the High Court, that’s the right comparison to use.”
Former governor-general Peter Cosgrove was paid $425,000 a year to act as the monarch’s representative when he came into the office in 2014. Quentin Bryce was paid $394,000, an increase from $365,000 when former senior army officer Michael Jeffery assumed the office, past amendments to the Governor-General Act reveal.
Anthony Albanese announced in April that Ms Mostyn – who worked for the Labor government in the 1990s – would serve as the 28th governor-general from next Monday, in a “surprise” pick ending months of speculation that he wouldappoint an Indigenous head of state.
The appointment raised concern from some Coalition MPs, due to Ms Mostyn’s status as a former Labor staffer, her attendance at Mr Albanese’s 2022 election victory party and since deleted social media posts promoting the voice and referring to Invasion Day.
Nationals MP Keith Pitt has criticised the salary increase of $214,017. “In the middle of a Labor-induced cost-of-living crisis, this pay rise is obscene and indefensible,” he said. “So many people are out there who can’t pay their rent, can’t pay their bills and can’t put food on the table.”
Liberal senator Gerard Rennick said the “big jump” was not a “good look” for Labor amid significant cost-of-living pressures for many Australians, and questioned why the salary was tied to the chief justice’s.
“The governor-general does a lot of work, too, but it’s a different type of work – you’re not making decisions that affect people’s lives,” he said. “As a politician, I’m in the position of making decisions rather than going around opening things … I don’t think it’s right to compare it to High Court judges making decisions for the country.”
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Australian Republic Movement director Isaac Jeffrey also criticised the pay packet for Ms Mostyn, saying the governor-general was not a “representative of the people, because the governor-general is the King’s representative, not Australia’s”.
“In a cost-of-living crisis, Aussies will no doubt look at a 42 per cent pay rise and wonder exactly what they’re getting for that sort of investment,” he said.
Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said most Australians would have trouble comprehending the pay increase for the incoming governor-general.
“I can understand there has been some robust consideration of the amount paid to the governor-general,” he said. “But at a time when the Prime Minister and the Treasurer are basing most of their remarks on trying to ease the cost of living for most Australians, most Australians would have difficulty appreciating such a large increase.”
Former governor-general Peter Cosgrove said the salary was set by the parliament “before the incumbency of each governor-general”, and was estimated based on the “yardstick” of the chief justice of the High Court’s salary. “It sounds like a hell of a jump, but it’s almost actuarial in nature,” he said.
“So whereas the Remuneration Tribunal, according to its own program, will revisit what the justices of the High Court get – which includes the chief justice – the parliament as a practice does not revisit the salary of the governor-general over the expected five years or so.”
On Monday, Mr Albanese commended Mr Hurley for his decades of service, describing his brand of leadership as “authentic and ethical” and remarking that the portrait by artist Jude Rae speaks to his good “character”.
“Just as it belongs to an important tradition, the unveiling of this official portrait is also an expression of our respect and gratitude,” he said. “Something that travels beyond your office or title and goes to your character.”
