Qld govt says no to changing pay laws

Extract from SBS Website:
2 July, 2013 - SOURCE: AAP

The Queensland government has refused to overturn legislation and deprive state MPs a hefty pay rise.

The Queensland government is refusing to bow to pressure to legislate against an exorbitant pay rise for state MPs.
The state's public service union Together says the government is being greedy and hypocritical.
MPs will get a $57,000 pay rise, lifting their base pay to $194,000 annually.
The government says it was forced to deliver the whopping pay rise after it received legal advice that a 2009 wage freeze imposed by former Labor Premier Anna Bligh breached legislation.
MPs are also entitled to back pay, however the government has warned it will name and shame any current MPs who opt for back pay.
Unions are calling for the government to use its majority in parliament and change Queensland laws that require state MPs' pay to match federal members.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie says the government will not over-turn the legislation, insisting politicians' pay was up to the independent statutory authority.
"We don't think retrospective legislation is good," he added.
"We won't be pursuing that."
Together state secretary Alex Scott says he doesn't buy the excuse.
"This government's track record is clear, it can work with retrospective legislation to strip away workers' conditions but they won't use the same legislation to strip away their own exorbitant pay increases," Mr Scott said.
"This is complete hypocrisy from the government."
The government will fund MPs wage rise by a 50 per cent cut to tax payer political party funds and cuts to electoral allowances.
Premier Campbell Newman, who is on annual leave, promised earlier this year that politicians would not get a wage rise until public servants were given more pay.
Mr Bleijie said this has changed because of legal advice.