Greens councillor Jonathan Sri has resigned to living in a houseboat after claiming his $150k taxpayer-funded salary is not enough to afford a house.
The colourful Brisbane city councillor has been living living on the five by three metre boat with his girlfriend since March this year, after abandoning his eight-person share-house.
Sri bought the cramped vessel for $30,000 despite earning a $157,782 salary which could easily buy him a decent-sized family home on the Gold Coast, Domain reports.
The colourful Brisbane city councillor (pictured) has been living living on the five by three metre boat with his girlfriend since March this year, after abandoning his eight-person share-house
Sri (pictured) bought the cramped vessel for $30,000 despite earning a $157,782 salary which could easily buy him a decent-sized family home on the Gold Coast, Domain reports
But the Greens politician instead chooses to donate half his wages to charity and lives well below his means.
‘I get about $150,000 a year. If I was keeping that I could afford to live in a much nicer place,’ he told the publication.
‘Until ordinary workers are paid better and Centrelink is much more reasonable I don’t think it’s fair for politicians to be afforded much higher pay.’
He revealed his take-home pay is a measly $900 per week.
Up until only months ago, the 29-year-old had been living in an illegally crowded share-house containing seven other flatmates.
‘I get about $150,000 a year. If I was keeping that I could afford to live in a much nicer place,’ he told the publication
Up until only months ago, the 29-year-old (pictured) had been living in an illegally crowded share-house containing seven other flatmates
After the Courier Mail exposed Sri’s unlawful living conditions, three of his housemates were forced to move under local council legislation which forbids more than five unrelated people to live under one roof.
He then decided to jump ship and finance his new floating home after complaining he was ‘sick’ of a landlord controlling his life.
The vessel is moored at Brisbane River and Sri and his girlfriend use a kayak to get on and off.
Sri told the Courier Mail while it is not an ideal lifestyle, he is planning to stay aboard his floating home for several more years.
‘It’s not always an easy life,’ he said. ‘The sandflies are really bad. You’re living off rainwater so there are definitely some downsides. But I think I’ll be there for at least a couple of years.’
He then decided to jump ship and finance his new floating home after complaining he was ‘sick’ of a landlord controlling his life (Stock image pictured)
‘Until ordinary workers are paid better and Centrelink is much more reasonable I don’t think it’s fair for politicians to be afforded much higher pay,’ Sri said
Sri told the Courier Mail while it is not an ideal lifestyle, he is planning to stay aboard his floating home for several more years
Sri was also quick to point out he did not want the government to view his houseboat stunt as an alternative to affordable housing.
‘It’s a lot more cramped than I think is comfortable and it’s not sustainable for most people,’ he told Domain. ‘The way I live is not a model I’d recommend for housing affordability.’
The Greens staffer has been long known for his bohemian lifestyle and is often seen with a rainbow scarf hanging from his neck.
He is also a former Queensland poetry slam champion who has featured at both the Sydney and Brisbane Writers’ Festivals.