Obscene Pay Rise Grows Bigger By The Day As Real Figures Revealed

Media Release.

The Newman government has told Queensland a blatant lie in announcing a $57,000 pay rise for politicians as the real figures revealed today show much higher increases – as much as double that for the Premier.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the true rate of the pay rise had been revealed in the Member’s Entitlement Handbook posted on-line late yesterday which shows the Premier’s salary alone will go from $280,000 to more than $398,000.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Deputy Premier would now receive another $100,000 and Ministers salaries will increase by more than $90,000.

“And that is disgusting,” she said.

“The government has told a blatant untruth to Queenslanders in disguising this as a $57,000 pay increase which in itself was obscene."

“The startling truth will disgust Queenslanders and I share their disgust that the likes of Lawrence Springborg and Jann Stuckey and Steve Dickson and Jarrod Bleijie will now be paid more than $315,000."

“This is an arrogant government that has now proven itself completely out of touch."

“While it refuses to grant minor increases to hard working public servants, each of its MPs will today be feeling like they have won the lottery."

“Even today Jeff Seeney is telling anyone who will listen that he is merely following the law."

“He knows and Campbell Newman knows that they can stop this with the stroke of a pen.

“They are the government with a huge majority and the decent thing to do would be change the legislation."

“The only thing stopping that is a very angry backbench – many of them under fire in their electorates after they agreed to their government’s severe cuts – and so they are screaming for financial reward."

“The Premier of course is away relaxing on holidays while this mess continues to unfold but I call on him to get back to Queensland today."

“Cut short your vacation, come home and fix this debacle.”