Greens prepared to accept 2 per cent rise to prevent 38 per cent

GREENS PREPARED TO ACCEPT 2% RISE TO PREVENT 38% PAY RISE

The Tasmanian Greens today restated their preferred position that State MPs’ pay should be frozen at current levels for the rest of the term of the Tasmanian Parliament, and welcomed Labor’s commitment to legislate to limit MPs’ pay after the next election.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that since neither Labor nor Liberal were prepared to adopt the Greens’ preferred pay freeze option, the next constructive step to take was to prioritise preventing the full flow-on of the 38% increase on the 1st of July.

“Parliament has failed to freeze MPs’ pay at the very time the Government is asking people to tighten their belts and the public will rightly find even a 2% pay rise for MPs hard to accept,” said Mr McKim.

“The Greens welcome the referral of State MPs’ pay to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission, although we remain concerned that the TIC could still recommend a significant pay rise for politicians, which would be unacceptable, given that many in the community are doing it tough.”

“Rather than block the last-minute compromise deal between the Government and the Upper House, the Greens MPs recognise that the lower 2% pay rise is preferable to the full automatic flow on of 38% which could end up being the result should the negotiated deal be wrecked.”

“As the only party which has consistently called for an MP pay freeze, the Greens will remain vigilant about ensuring MPs’ pay-setting mechanisms reflects public expectations,” said Mr McKim.