Labor will not support pay rises by Newman Government

Media Release.

July 5, 2013

On Monday this week the Newman Government announced hefty pay rises for state MPs.
Labor Party Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly do not and will not support the rises proposed by the Newman Government.
Decisions on how much our state’s 89 MPs are paid have always been the responsibility of the government of the day.
The former Labor government instituted a freeze on MPs’ wages at a time workers and their employers were being hit hard by tough economic circumstances including the extraordinary impacts of the global financial crisis.
The Labor government believed it was not fair for MPs to receive a wage rise when others in the community were being asked to limit or sacrifice entirely any increases in their own pay packets.
This week’s decision by the Newman Government winds back the effect of the former government’s freeze by delivering an enormous catch-up pay rise of at least $57,000 or more than 40% for backbenchers.
This decision has justifiably provoked criticism from Queenslanders who have no opportunity to secure a pay rise anywhere near that amount.
The Newman Government’s decision has been rightly attacked by state public sector workers who are being directed by the same government to severely limit their wage claims to little more than 2%.
The decision on MPs’ wages is especially offensive to those former government workers whose jobs were among the 14,000 cut by the Newman Government which claimed it could not afford to pay them, despite the fact many of those sacked delivered frontline services.
The Newman Government’s decision is also a slap in the face for Queenslanders struggling to meet the cost of living, especially in the wake of government’s 22.6% increase in average power bills that took effect this week and the range of higher taxes, fees, and charges outlined in the recent State Budget.
The Newman Government has also cut in half the electorate allowances provided to MPs to help them support local community groups and serve their constituents.
The government claims its decision on MPs’ wages and electorate allowances has been based on legal advice suggesting the former government’s wages freeze was not legally valid.
This opens the possibility of former MPs of all parties to claim back-pay previously frozen and off limits to them.
Labor Party Members of the Legislative Assembly do not and will not support any claims for back-pay by former MPs.
The former government’s decision to freeze MPs’ pay never envisaged a catch-up or the possibility of back-pay.
We believe the proposed wage rises and any claims for back-pay cannot be supported at a time the Newman Government is continuing to inflict its austerity drive on the state public sector — most recently through plans to outsource and privatise jobs and services which will ultimately lead to fewer jobs and lower wages and conditions.
Previous governments have fulfilled their responsibilities to decide on how, when, and by how much the wages of MPs will rise.
The decision this week is unacceptable and does not have the Labor Party’s support.
It is now up to the Newman Government to meets its responsibilities in a way that is acceptable to the broader Queensland community.