The cat’s out of the bag! The Public Servants on twice the Prime Minister’s salary
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With the cost-of-living crisis stifling much of Australia, it's no wonder that more Australians are feeling the pinch when it comes to making ends meet. Meanwhile, it seems that our government employees are doing just fine – in fact, they’re taking home more money than you might have expected.
Senior public servants are enjoying salaries in CEO fashion, generous 15 per cent super rates, and other perks including cars, free Qantas club membership, and office facilities at home.
One of the highest-paid public servants in the country is the new Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Glyn Davis AC, who is bringing home $939,610 in salary and benefits to run the department.
Despite the staggering amount that one could only ever dream of, it’s a significant pay cut for Davis, who previously enjoyed a $1,589,999 package as the Vice Chancellor of Melbourne University. It’s also a little less than the salary of the Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell, who earns more than $1 million a year.
Australian public servants are raking in cash. Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Davis has been referred to by his colleagues as ‘a unicorn’ thanks to his deep understanding of how governments should work. He also practised as a State Bureaucrat in Queensland and went on to run a multimillion-dollar institution at the University of Melbourne.
But his impressive credentials don’t end there, Mr Davis previously worked as the CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropic body, figuring out ‘what to do with the $4 billion’ left behind for good works.
In comparison, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is paid $564,356 a year, while Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles takes home $444,973 and Treasurer Jim Chalmers $406,988. You can read more on this here.
Even though some leaders, including the RBA’s Philip Lowe who earns a base salary of $911,728, have called for a pay raise, Australian public servants are undeniably compensated well by international standards.
For example, Department of Home Affairs Departmental Secretary Mike Pezzullo is paid $892,630, which is reportedly double that of his British equivalent.
The Albanese Government is struggling with potential changes. Source: 9News
The generous pay packets come as the Albanese Government struggles with legislated tax cuts for high-income earners.
Dr Chalmers insisted that the Government’s position on stage three tax cuts remains, but he stressed that any government must practise responsible economic management.
‘No responsible government can ignore a high and rising inflation, a deteriorating global situation, or the fact that we have got these persistent structural pressures on the budget,’ he said.
‘My job, as the Treasurer of this country, is to make sure that the budget is as sustainable as it can be to deal with the challenges that we anticipate. If there’s going to be one defining feature in the budget, it’s going to be responsible economic management.’
The Government is believed to be looking into options to cap the tax cuts for high-income workers, but not abandoning the idea entirely.
On the other hand, some CEOs running publicly owned corporations of the Australian Government are enjoying more lavish salaries than the $1 million payday for the top public servants.
Among them is National Broadband Network Co-Chief Executive Stephen Rue, who has been bringing home $2,647,974.
Australia Post’s Paul Graham, a former Woolworths Executive, has the potential to earn up to $3 million a year. And last but not least, Former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate was paid $1.5 million.
Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell earns roughly a million dollars every year. Source: ABC
The salaries of Australia’s public servants (from the Remuneration Tribunal)
• Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell: $1,034,315
• Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Glyn Davis: $939,610
• Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy: $916,120
• Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo: $892,630
• Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty: $963,428
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Adams: $892,630
• Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe: $1,076,029
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: $564,356
• Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles: $444,973
• Treasurer Jim Chalmers: $406,988
• Foreign Minister Penny Wong: $406,988
• Finance Minister Katy Gallagher: $379,855
What are your thoughts about these salaries? Let us know in the comments below.
Senior public servants are enjoying salaries in CEO fashion, generous 15 per cent super rates, and other perks including cars, free Qantas club membership, and office facilities at home.
One of the highest-paid public servants in the country is the new Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Glyn Davis AC, who is bringing home $939,610 in salary and benefits to run the department.
Despite the staggering amount that one could only ever dream of, it’s a significant pay cut for Davis, who previously enjoyed a $1,589,999 package as the Vice Chancellor of Melbourne University. It’s also a little less than the salary of the Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell, who earns more than $1 million a year.
Australian public servants are raking in cash. Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Davis has been referred to by his colleagues as ‘a unicorn’ thanks to his deep understanding of how governments should work. He also practised as a State Bureaucrat in Queensland and went on to run a multimillion-dollar institution at the University of Melbourne.
But his impressive credentials don’t end there, Mr Davis previously worked as the CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropic body, figuring out ‘what to do with the $4 billion’ left behind for good works.
In comparison, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is paid $564,356 a year, while Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles takes home $444,973 and Treasurer Jim Chalmers $406,988. You can read more on this here.
Even though some leaders, including the RBA’s Philip Lowe who earns a base salary of $911,728, have called for a pay raise, Australian public servants are undeniably compensated well by international standards.
For example, Department of Home Affairs Departmental Secretary Mike Pezzullo is paid $892,630, which is reportedly double that of his British equivalent.
The Albanese Government is struggling with potential changes. Source: 9News
The generous pay packets come as the Albanese Government struggles with legislated tax cuts for high-income earners.
Dr Chalmers insisted that the Government’s position on stage three tax cuts remains, but he stressed that any government must practise responsible economic management.
‘No responsible government can ignore a high and rising inflation, a deteriorating global situation, or the fact that we have got these persistent structural pressures on the budget,’ he said.
‘My job, as the Treasurer of this country, is to make sure that the budget is as sustainable as it can be to deal with the challenges that we anticipate. If there’s going to be one defining feature in the budget, it’s going to be responsible economic management.’
The Government is believed to be looking into options to cap the tax cuts for high-income workers, but not abandoning the idea entirely.
On the other hand, some CEOs running publicly owned corporations of the Australian Government are enjoying more lavish salaries than the $1 million payday for the top public servants.
Among them is National Broadband Network Co-Chief Executive Stephen Rue, who has been bringing home $2,647,974.
Australia Post’s Paul Graham, a former Woolworths Executive, has the potential to earn up to $3 million a year. And last but not least, Former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate was paid $1.5 million.
Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell earns roughly a million dollars every year. Source: ABC
The salaries of Australia’s public servants (from the Remuneration Tribunal)
• Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell: $1,034,315
• Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Glyn Davis: $939,610
• Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy: $916,120
• Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo: $892,630
• Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty: $963,428
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Adams: $892,630
• Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe: $1,076,029
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: $564,356
• Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles: $444,973
• Treasurer Jim Chalmers: $406,988
• Foreign Minister Penny Wong: $406,988
• Finance Minister Katy Gallagher: $379,855
What are your thoughts about these salaries? Let us know in the comments below.