Federal politicians get $211 a week pay rise while low paid get an extra $40

Outrage as Australia’s lowest paid workers get a $40 a week payrise while politicians get a $211 increase – as Anthony Albanese is called to turn down the pay bump

  • Fair Work Commission grants federal politicians their best pay rise in a decade
  • Calls for the Prime Minister and opposition leader, Peter Dutton, to refuse a raise 
  • Low paid Australians given 5.2 per cent increase, only an extra $40 each week
  • Australia’s national minimum wage is now $812.60 per week, or $21.38 per hour 

Minimum wage workers have been left fuming after discovering federal politicians were handed an extra $112 a week while they have been given a $40-a-week wage increase. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton are facing calls to turn down their pay rises until Australia’s energy crisis, which has sent power prices soaring, is resolved. 

The independent Fair Work Commission on Tuesday awarded federal politicians a 2.75 per cent pay rise, the most generous increase in a decade.    

A backbencher’s salary has gone up by $5,810 a year or about $112 a week from $211,250 to $217,060.

The lowest paid workers in Australia have received a $40-a-week wage increase after federal politicians were handed an extra $112 a week

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's salary was bumped by $15,106 a year or about $290 a week from $549,250 to $564,356 (Pictured, Minister for Sport and Aged care Anika Wells and Anthony Albanese in Brisbane on Tuesday)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s salary was bumped by $15,106 a year or about $290 a week from $549,250 to $564,356 (Pictured, Minister for Sport and Aged care Anika Wells and Anthony Albanese in Brisbane on Tuesday)

Mr Albanese’s salary was bumped by $15,106 a year or about $290 a week from $549,250 to $564,356.  

Mr Dutton will rake in $401,561 up from $390,813, an increase of $10,748 a year or about $207 a week. 

The increase from July 1 represented a real-wage cut with inflation running at 5.1 per cent but was above private sector wage increases in the year to March of 2.4 per cent. 

Social media users did not miss the fact that Australia's politicians, though well paid already, also got a healthy pay increase

Social media users did not miss the fact that Australia’s politicians, though well paid already, also got a healthy pay increase

However, some say that politicians were very lucky to have received any increase at all while the nation’s debt heads towards $1trillion. 

Daniel Wild, Director of Research at the Institute of Public Affairs, said it was ‘extraordinary’ that politicians are ‘lining their own back pockets’ during a cost of living crisis.

‘This says everything you need to know about the priorities of the political class and that one of the first things they do after the election is pat themselves on the back and give themselves an unearned pay rise,’ he said.

‘Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton must show leadership and refuse the pay rise until this energy crisis is solved.’

Social media reaction was against politicians getting pay rises while so many Aussies are battling

Social media reaction was against politicians getting pay rises while so many Aussies are battling

‘This is further evidence that there are two Australia’s: real Australians who are doing it tough and the out of touch political class who are on the gravy train.’

On Tuesday, the Fair Work Commission boosted the national minimum wage by 5.2 per cent, amounting to an increase of $40 a week or $2,080 a year from $40,175 to $42,255. 

The national minimum wage will now sit at $812.60 per week, or $21.38 per hour.  

Mr Dutton will rake in $401,561 up from $390,813, an increase of $10,748 a year or about $207 a week

Mr Dutton will rake in $401,561 up from $390,813, an increase of $10,748 a year or about $207 a week

Minimum wage increase at a glance

A 5.2 per cent increase from July 1

That equates to $812.60 a week – an increase of $40

The $21.38 an hour rate marks an increase of $1.05

New minimum pay of $42,255 a year for those working full-time – up $2,080 from $40,175

The increase was above the 5.1 per cent inflation rate and was the most generous since 2006 during the mining boom

It was more than double last year’s 2.5 per cent increase 

The decision to award a 5.2 per cent minimum wage increase directly affects 180,000 workers

The other low-paid workers on modern awards are getting a 4.6 per cent increase if they earn more than $869.60 a week and will get $40 more  a week