MPs’ wage freeze on ice

Public servants cop pay rise deferral while politicians wait for review

THE wages of Queensland politicians have not been officially frozen yet, despite hundreds of thousands of public servants copping a pay rise deferral from July 1.

The Remuneration Tribunal told the Gold Coast Bulletin it had 90 days from when the Core Agreement – which largely covers administrative officers – was certified on June 9 to make a decision.

It comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk referred the matter to the tribunal in April, with the government repeatedly insisting public servants would have their wages frozen from July 1.

Greens MP Michael Berkman slammed the revelation, claiming that it took the government “one day to rush legislation … but we’re still waiting to find out whether politicians will take a pay cut too”. “They’ve already given the pokies industry a tax break and mining companies a royalties freeze.

“This government has clearly decided it’s ordinary working families who should foot the bill for Queensland’s economic recovery, not big corporations or politicians,” Mr Berkman said.

There was significant backlash from unions after Ms Palaszczuk made the shock freeze announcement for public servants on breakfast TV in early-April.

Ms Palaszczuk later wrote to the tribunal seeking politician wages to be frozen.

The government officially legislated the freeze for public servants last month, effectively making it a deferral that came into effect from July 1.

A government spokesperson said that the tribunal was an independent body and its decisions were made separate from government.

“The Premier wrote to the tribunal in April seeking a wage freeze for all politicians, without deferral, and that remains the government’s position,” they said.

“Until the tribunal makes its decision, the pay rates of politicians remain frozen.”

Tribunal chair Walter Tutt said the current review would be undertaken, and a determination would be made in accordance with its obligations under the Act.

Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Michael Clifford said: “We would expect the decision should impose the same wage arrangements on the politicians as have been imposed on public sector workers.”

LNP industrial relations spokesman Jarrod Bleijie said that the Premier had an opportunity to support a vote to legislate a freeze for politicians’ pay, but had “squibbed it”.

“I tabled amendments last sitting, but the Labor government did not allow time in parliament for the amendments to be debated,” Mr Bleijie said.