Premier rejects Hickey pay plea
A PLEA from Speaker Sue Hickey for a pay rise has received a negative response from the Premier.
Ms Hickey made a submission to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission — which is currently reviewing politicians’ pay — arguing for the salary increase from the nearly $190,000 plus allowances she already receives.
But Premier Will Hodgman said he did not agree.
“Her submission is not a Government one,” he said yesterday.
“The Government’s view on this is very clear, that parliamentarians’ salaries need to be independently determined — not by politicians.
“Our Industrial Commission is currently undertaking a review into those matters which should run its course properly.
“I know there are differing views in the community as to how much parliamentarians should be paid — if at all.
“But we believe that it’s appropriate for the independent commission to make determinations about what is appropriate and that is why there’s a review under way and it will be determined through that process.”
According to the Industrial Commission’s discussion paper, Ms Hickey receives a salary of nearly $190,000 a year — an MP’s base salary of $140,185 plus $49,065 for being Speaker.
She also receives an entertainment allowance of $9547.
As member for Clark she receives an electorate allowance of $32,394 to take care of expenses and a members resource allowance of $7500 a year for computer hardware.
She has two staff, an office in Parliament House with a private dining room and an electorate office.
Like all MPs, Ms Hickey is also allowed use of a car and driver or a $16,196 motor vehicle allowance and is entitled to an Away from Home Travelling Allowance and a Bass Strait Islands Travelling Allowance.
Labor spokeswoman Sarah Lovell rejected Ms Hickey’s suggestion she needed a pay rise.
“This is absolutely ludicrous. For Sue Hickey to come out and say that we work long hours and that she puts herself at risk and that somehow deserves more money than what she is getting — which is already more than four times what the average Tasmanian full-time worker is earning — is insulting and it is ludicrous.”