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PSA criticises MPs' pay increase

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Fri, 24 Dec 2010 7:38a.m.

The Remuneration Authority is being accused of being out of touch with the average New Zealander after it gave MPs a 1.4 percent pay rise.

It means a backbencher will get nearly $135,000 a year, while Prime Minister John Key's salary tops the $400,000 mark.

Public Service Association National Secretary Richard Wagstaff says the authority's decision makes them look like hypocrites.

The new salaries have been backdated to July.

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Comments

19 Jan 2011 12:51p.m.

Lindsay. wrote:

It seems one important fact has been missed by the comments posted and that is the timing of the announcement of MPs salary increase.Dec 23 when the country is busy with xmas and work break ups the attention focused on this announcement is quickly lost amidst the holiday period.politicians are a self serving lot and any thoughts of public service are a smoke screen for self promotion.after all with out a public image they dont get much recgnition and are left to the back benches.I cant imigane Foterra or Fletchers wanting to deal with a lowly Nat or Labour back bench associte spokes person can you?? And of course they are in it for the money.travel,and perks.It is after all only a scam if you're not in on it your self.just wish my holidays were so long and my work so unproductive as this lot.Gin any one??

26 Dec 2010 11:00a.m.

Grant wrote:

National changed the rules for the remuneration authority last year, it made the remuneration Authority take into account economic factors.

It just goes to show that if National really wanted to over rule the remuneration authority they could.

But we will get empty platitudes and a shurg of the shoulders and they will be extremely happy in private while they tell the public there was nothing they could do to stop it.

Lieing thieves.

26 Dec 2010 10:00a.m.

Kim wrote:

I get a little sick every time i see the word independent when reading about the Remuneration Authority. The members are appointed to thier highly paid positions for three years with the expectation that if you do a good job you will get another term... or five.
Who makes those appointments you may ask??? One Guess...

25 Dec 2010 04:31p.m.

Neil wrote:

Why isn't anyone questioning the people on the Remuneration Authority ??? Who are the people on that Authority anyway ? I would really like to see them answer why the MPs deserve this pay rise.

25 Dec 2010 01:04p.m.

James Read wrote:

It needs to be pointed out again, that M.Ps don't fix their own salary, that is done by the Remuneration Authority.If we want to attract to parliament top quality people, then they musty be paid at least as good salary as they would get in the private sector.

25 Dec 2010 08:29a.m.

jon wrote:

I don't want to hear any politician bemoaning the actions of the renumeration authority. Particularly any member of the current government since they have the power to legislate anything they want (remember the Clark lot legislating overnight to make their illegal pre-election spending legal)
and could, if they were sincere legislate their pay rises away quite easily.

24 Dec 2010 09:42p.m.

Dodger wrote:

The Remuneration Authority should be disbanded. If the MPs feel very strongly against the increase, they should overwhelmingly passed a motion forgoing the increase.

24 Dec 2010 01:32p.m.

Kiwi wrote:

One wonders how much 'compensation' they will get when their perks are taken away.

24 Dec 2010 11:38a.m.

Thom Simmons wrote:

It does not make them look like hypocrites, they are hypocrites. And leaving it at that is being restrained.

24 Dec 2010 09:57a.m.

Grant wrote:

This is technicially the second Pay raise that Ministers have gotten in the last 12 months.

Not only did they get the 1.4 percent increase but they got extra money in their pay packets when the government reduced the top tax rates.

Overall Ministers are now likely receiving 5-6% more in their hands than they previously got.

Not just the silly 1.4 percent that the Remuneration Authority handed out.. whcih most certainly wasnt needed.

The remuneration authority seems to have completely glossed over the fact that Ministers were already receiving more take hom pay in their hands anyway.