Sacrifice
While the ACTU is determined to sacrifice wages for the sake of "the economy", some of the highest salary earners in the country don't have the same approach to their incomes. Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett (on $131,771 a year, plus $11,806 electorate allowance and $27,673 premier's allowance) told listeners to Melbourne's Radio 3AW on May 13 that he — and other politicians — were not being paid enough.
The follow list of some of the country's high salaries was published by the Melbourne Age:
Prime Minister Paul Keating: $173,000 plus electorate allowance of $11,806 and free first class air travel for him and his wife for life.
Federal parliamentarians: $68,663 and electorate allowances of $20,000+.
Victorian parliamentarians: $65,887 plus $11,806 electorate allowance.
Head of a federal department: $113,000 to $130,000.
Head of a Victorian department: up to $205,000 plus performance bonuses (for cutting jobs).
High Court chief justice: $185,000.
High Court judge: $168,000.
Industrial Relations commissioner: $143,129.
Chief of Defence Force: $130,000.
Managing director of AMP Society: $800,000.
Chief executive of BHP: $1.48 million.