The Liberal Government’s commitment to fixing the budget mess will be supported by a freeze on senior executive service salaries.
Cabinet today agreed to freeze SES salaries for a year from today, foregoing the annual two per cent pay increase.
The freeze will apply to approximately 220 of the Government’s most senior public servants and will save an expected $500,000 over the year.
It is a difficult but necessary decision and it was made in the context of the difficult budget situation we have been left with.
The move follows the Liberal Government’s decision to freeze MP salaries and board fees.
The Liberal Government is demonstrating budget discipline. This discipline has seen the reduction in the cost of ministerial transport, the merger of DEDTA and DIER, and implementing strict vacancy control across government to ensure only essential positions are filled.
The legacy of the Labor-Green Government is a $1.1 billion budget black hole, rising debt and rising interest payments.
This is another step in our plan to rebuild the budget and clean up the mess that Labor and the Greens created.
Will Hodgman, Premier
