New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has moved to restrict pay increases and staffing growth for opposition members of parliament, despite a significant rise in government expenditure on ministerial advisers during his term. This comes amid scrutiny from the state’s corruption watchdog and after an independent tribunal recommended boosting MPs’ salaries and staffing allowances.
Since Minns assumed office, spending on ministerial staff salaries has risen by 16 percent, reaching $47.6 million last financial year, up from $41.1 million. Over the past three years, the total amount spent on ministerial staff has exceeded $135 million, excluding broader expenses tied to running ministers’ offices. Many of these positions are occupied by highly paid communications personnel tasked with promoting government initiatives.
In contrast, Minns has opposed a recent determination by the Parliamentary Remunerations Tribunal (PRT) to increase the number of staff available to opposition MPs and to raise politicians’ base salaries. The PRT, an independent body responsible for setting parliamentary salaries and allowances, cited evolving job demands and called for an overhaul of existing payment structures. Currently, MPs receive $178,000 annually, supplemented by an electoral allowance often used for community-focused expenses such as flowers or raffle tickets.
The tribunal recommended a phased salary increase: a modest boost this year, followed by an additional $35,000 next May, elevating the base salary to approximately $220,000. It also proposed tightening rules around allowances to improve transparency. Opposition parties, including Liberal and Greens MPs, have supported these recommendations, arguing that current remuneration levels do not reflect the responsibilities and workload of state parliamentarians.
Premier Minns promptly announced intentions to introduce legislation capping salary growth at 3 percent for the coming financial year. He defended his position by citing the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and accused opposition MPs seeking additional staff support of displaying “hypocrisy at the highest level.” Minns further criticized the push for higher pay as “tone deaf” in the current economic climate.
Critics argue that the premier’s stance undermines the purpose of the independent tribunal, which was established precisely to remove political interference from remuneration decisions. They contend that adequately compensating elected officials is necessary to attract and retain qualified representatives capable of meeting the demands of modern governance.
The timing of the dispute coincides with ongoing proceedings before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), where former Liberal staffers face allegations of misusing work hours for factional political activities. Observers note that such practices are not exclusive to any one party and suggest a broader cultural challenge within parliamentary staff.
The debate over MPs’ pay and staffing occurs amid wider concerns about political accountability and integrity, highlighting tensions between fiscal restraint, effective representation, and public expectations of transparency in government.