Are Politicians 'Really' Underpaid

Trying2SaveABuck on 02/06/2022 - 21:57
Last edited 03/06/2022 - 00:43 by 1 other user

Looks like the general consensus was Nurses are well-underpaid teachers was more a mixed bag from polls being well in favor that they're 'fairly paid'

i had some requests for MPs so i looked into federal politicians - and straight off the bat im going to say majority of them are over-paid….they are certainly over-entilted to the point i was disgusted with how much our own politicians rip off the system….but that is just my opinion ill explain what i found

according to this source

https://icacpls.github.io/salary-breakdowns.html - note this source is from 2019

Majority of the MPs earn around 250k, members of cabinet and other positions like speaker of the house get a large 'bump' in there pay packet sitting around 380k, the Prime mister who compensation is on around 580k - this includes allowances given to MPs

NOW ill say this if they is all they got i would probably think the compensation is somewhat FAIR considering they could easily get voted out in 3 years and it is incredibility cut throat BUT the 'real' value of being a MP comes from an incredibly generous special 'pension' they get 'for life' according to this source https://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/parliamentary_depart…

now this pension is 'that is not means tested' and is FOR LIFE how it is based on years of services.

'A retiring allowance is paid as a percentage of the minimum annual allowance payable at the time of retirement, currently $185 000 per annum.'

now depending on 'how many years of service' a MP has put in will determine how much of the 185k pa they will get 8 years is 50 percent up to 18 which is 75 percent

THUS ALL FEDERAL MPS who serve for 8 to 18 years will get a life time not means tested pension of 92-138k - keep in mind the 'average Australian' can only get around a pension after means testing of around 25k pa.

now there are 'other' benefits MPs who are retired get but you almost need to be a lawyer to understand all the BS they get away with and the 'more' i read the more it pisses me off and makes me think what a waste of tax dollars….

im actually disgusted how much these flogs get once they are 'retired' and how 'little' they have to do to get such entitlement but perhaps that is just me what do you guys think.

to put it into contect a retire MP who has the max special pension allowance will get a PENSION that is in line with the 90th percentile of WORKERS earnings pa.

WTF Australia…..

Poll Options

  • 561
    MPs are over-paid
  • 49
    MPs are paid fairly
  • 23
    MPs are under-paid
Education & Work

Comments

  • Drakesy on 03/06/2022 - 11:12

    MP's are overpaid.
    It requires zero qualifications
    Yes they have to work hard, but hey you put yourself up to the job.

    I think they can halve the politicians wage and there'll be a never-ending supply of people willing to jump into replace them.

    TBH having one of the highest paid prime ministers in the world is ridiculous, it's not like they have to complete against private.

    • LFO on 03/06/2022 - 11:44

      Yes they have to work hard

      The Hollywood line comes to mind: washing machines work harder.

    • Vita85 on 03/06/2022 - 13:56

      They work hard drinking at the bar in Canberra.

  • b0rnwithabeard on 03/06/2022 - 11:39
    +4

    so we now know there’s 4 MPs on ozbargains

  • LFO on 03/06/2022 - 11:42
    +3

    MPs are over-paid

    Missing a poll option:

    1. MPs are grossly and grotesquely over-paid.
  • poboy on 03/06/2022 - 11:44
    +3

    Politicians also have unlimited superannuation concessional contributions.

  • rambutann on 03/06/2022 - 11:47
    +2

    I believe there are some MP's that are overpaid, and some that are underpaid.
    For example, old mate greeny boi up in Brisbane is going from a retail job to $211k p/a - 4x his previous wage. Lotta money for someone with not a lot of life experience.

    Flip side - there's no way in hell I would be the prime minister of this country for a measly $550k. CFO's of medium-size companies get paid more than that. I'd rather deal with 1 company and be paid more than manage the entire country - receive death threats and basically be working 24/7.

  • Almost Banned on 03/06/2022 - 11:53
    +3

    I think they are well paid for the work - but I also know that it is not an easy job.
    There is constant travel, being stuck in Canberra at any time of the year is rough, but in winter its a nightmare, they spend long periods away from home and family.
    Then there are the constant tedious meetings and public events.
    The incessant complaining of constituents with all sorts of issues - many completely ridiculous.
    I have seen it ruin several marriages.
    And of course, there is also the uncertainty.
    However, if you are on the top of the Senate ticket for one of the majors your job is a little different. You don't really need to worry about anything except keeping the party executive sweet to keep your spot on top of the ticket. For those people their constituents are not the people of their state, they are the handful of people who select ballot positions.

  • whatwasherproblem on 03/06/2022 - 11:55
    +1

    You said you'd make this thread and you followed through, OP. What a madlad!

    As for me I can't get into my opinions about politicians without glowposting so I'll abstain.

  • Thrawn on 03/06/2022 - 12:26
    +1

    In Singapore, politician salaries are pegged relative to the median income of the top-1000 of Singapore earners.

    As a result the PM gets $2.2m…. About 4 times the Aussie PM

    If you think of it in terms that we want politicians to come from the pool of the best performers.. it kind of makes sense

    • endolphin on 03/06/2022 - 22:10

      Yep. Seriously who would want to be running the country for a paltry $580k. They obviously don't do it for the money (or else they would be in business earning more for a lot less stress).

  • philljcool on 03/06/2022 - 13:56
    +2

    Ever noticed how many politicians leave politics and go straight into incredibly well-paying jobs with nebulous responsibilities? That sounds a lot like corruption to me, a sort of "do us a favour now and we'll give you a cushy gig when you are out of parliament". The parliamentary pension is designed to discourage that, as MPs know they can focus on doing their job rather than worrying about what they'll do when they leave. It obviously doesn't work all the time.

    Now, I'd rather have a powerful anti-corruption watchdog that throws pollies in jail for this stuff… but I doubt we'll ever get that. So if paying them to not be corrupt is what it takes I'm willing to accept that.

  • Deals For Days on 03/06/2022 - 14:29

    The issue is, I want politicians to be the best. We want to attract people away from high paying fields where they can usually make more (med/finance/etc.) if their abilities will help the country a lot.

    The problem is that the desire to be a politician often comes down to character, not ability, and I think in general being a politician often attracts bad characters.

  • Windows98 on 03/06/2022 - 15:22

    I'd rather them being overpaid and working hard to keep their job in a professional manner than being underpaid and taking kick backs and under the table deals.

    Same with the police and army.

    • Drakesy on 03/06/2022 - 16:56
      +6

      Issue is they're overpaid, not working hard and still doing deals with their mates/taking kick backs.

      • Vote for Pedro on 03/06/2022 - 16:59
        +5

        Did someone say ‘Federal ICAC’?

  • anthony t on 03/06/2022 - 16:56

    Toby Ralph, who has worked on fifty elections across three continents, said it all on Gruen Planet. Can't find exact quote, so look it up yourself on Google(!) Basically, though he said it perfectly, 'the people who aren't particularly good at anything, go into politics'. Then vote themselves higher salaries and benefits. Higher salaries for this sector don't attract better quality or smarter pollies. It's the pensions and jobs after, as someone mentioned. For proof, look into Australia's so called 'future fund'. More than $200 billion set aside to pay 'unfunded' superannuation liabilities but retired and retiring politicians may become the significant recipients. AFAIK not a cent spent yet. There are other 'Future Funds', with scads of money too, but life's too short to figure out what they're for. It's all about making we, the people, feel like were in a poor country, while we're 8th for GDP per capita (excl. island states like Macao).

  • drprox on 03/06/2022 - 17:24
    -3

    Where's the "go away OP and stop posting this garbage" option?

  • ozaym on 03/06/2022 - 17:42

    The role is generally considered underpaid for the accountability that comes with it, although the current and previous lot I would say they should’ve had their 6month performance appraisal and asked not to come back on Monday.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 18:20

      Accountability????? What accountability? What has Scott Morrison been accountable for? What consequences has Gladys actually gotten?

      • ozaym on 03/06/2022 - 22:08

        That’s the issue with politics right, they are meant to have accountability… most important jobs in the country..

  • idonotknowwhy on 03/06/2022 - 18:39
    +1

    You trying to get all the slots on the front page or something?

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 03/06/2022 - 22:21

      just realized im 1,2 and 3 despite all the hate i've gotten from these forums people are interested so makes me feel a little better….

      • idonotknowwhy on 06/06/2022 - 11:54

        Online hate generally isn't real anyway.
        People arguing on here are just bored while they're on the train or taking a dump lol.

  • nuttapillar on 03/06/2022 - 19:38
    -1

    why are you asking if they're underpaid? pretty much everyone says they are overpaid…
    So your question would be better worded as "Are politicians really overaid?"

  • lilyesp on 03/06/2022 - 22:20

    To be fair we need smart and educated ppl running this country- they could prob earn $$$ doing other professions but yeh my thoughts anyway.

  • mountaineer on 03/06/2022 - 23:46
    +1

    It is the general managers of the local councils are over paid. Period. Useless, arrogant and honestly what do they do????

  • relentless on 04/06/2022 - 06:25

    are mods underpaid

  • Onysius on 04/06/2022 - 08:33

    I personally do think that the Federal politicians are underpaid, considering that they are responsible for $1T econnomy, and could be earning more in the private sector. But I think it's extremely hypercritical of them to significantly restrict pay increases (to mere low single digit percentages) to the ones who actually do the work, whereas they grant themselves considerably higher percentage increases.
    However as for the state and local government politicians, they are seriously overpaid.
    Australia needs to get rid of at least 1 level of government, and after how the state govts have behaved over the past 2 years, I personally think it should be the state governments that get the chop.

  • nigel deborah on 04/06/2022 - 09:57

    I don't have any issues with high politician pay. It protects them against corruption. The pension too, properly designed, provides and incentive not to use their influence in corrupt corporate lobbying.

    That said, in return for the pay and pension, they should be totally barred from holding any and all investments while in office (except a tightly regulated, highly diversified and totally transparent public owned investment fund) or, after retiring from politics, taking jobs with any company who has (or is trying to get) large contracts with the commonwealth.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 04/06/2022 - 10:56

      this is a fair point id be alright if that was the case it probably would need to apply for there partner/spouse

    • Vita85 on 04/06/2022 - 15:50

      They're highly paid and highly corrupt

  • Cluster on 04/06/2022 - 16:24

    Are police overpaid?
    Are fast food workers overpaid?
    Are retail staff overpaid?
    Are electricians overpaid?
    Are plumbers overpaid?
    Are council workers overpaid?
    Are security staff overpaid?
    Are mining workers overpaid?

  • jsheroes on 04/06/2022 - 16:42

    You want better politicians? Want to attract capable people? You want a more representative socio-demographic mix in parliament? Concerned about corruption? Cutting the pay of politicians, which is an absolute drop in the ocean of the federal budget will send us backward on all of those things.

    Also, those who think politicians don't work hard for their money are well wide of the mark. They might not be working on the things you want in the way you want, but there's no doubt it's typically a very tough life with extraordinarily long hours.

  • tjswinno on 04/06/2022 - 18:17

    The pensions politicians get are paid by a superannuation fund, this is different from the age pension. Lots of private companies also have the same type of pension scheme called a defined benefit. While a different type of pension, you also set up your own private pension on retirement from your superannuation. Don't get these and the age pension confused because you can have both if your super pension doesn't disqualify you under the means test.

  • RefusdClassification on 04/06/2022 - 18:26
    -1

    Abolish "upper-class" defined benefits pensions for politicians. Make them live like everyone else, superannuation + commonplace aged pension.

    • Ponsonby on 05/06/2022 - 15:40
      +1

      Defined benefits pensions were abolished in 2004 for politicians elected after that time

  • cashless on 05/06/2022 - 23:12

    Zzzzzz

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