The top 10 public sector earners that you’ve NEVER heard of: The pen-pushers raking in up to $886,750 a year – almost DOUBLE what Scott Morrison gets paid
- Some of Australia’s highest-ranking servants earning up to $886,750 a year
- Top salary taken home by head of Australia Prudential Regulation Authority
- Almost double the $550,000 salary earned by Prime Minister Scott Morrison
- All ten of the top-ranked public-sector earners take home at least $665,070
Some of Australia’s highest-ranking public servants are earning up to $886,750 a year – almost double the wage of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Newly-released figures show the top public sector salary is taken home by the chairman of the Australia Prudential Regulation Authority – the country’s financial services regulator – Wayne Byres.
The chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission James Shipton meanwhile is paid $775,910 a year, according to the Australian Government Remunerational Tribunal.
The top public sector salary is taken home by the chairman of the Australia Prudential Regulation Authority Wayne Byres – who earns $886,750
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw earns $720,480, according to newly-released figures from the Australian Government Remunerational Tribunal
Mr Shipton is joined in a three-way tie for second place by the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Rod Sims and the solicitor-general Dr Stephen Donaghue QC.
Mr Morrison by comparison takes home just under $550,000 – when taking into account the 160 per cent loading on top of his base $211,250 ministerial salary.
The CEO of Services Australia Rebecca Skinner came in fourth with an annual salary of $748,210.
The fifth-placed salary of $720,480 is shared by three public officials: Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw, commissioner of the Australian Public Service Peter Woolcott and Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence Nick Warner.
Two APRA employees are also ranked among the top 10 highest-paid public sector workers – with the deputy chair earning $709,390 and an APRA member position pocketing $665,070 each year.
The Remuneration Tribunal independently sets the salaries of Australia’s senior public servants, politicians and judges.
The chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Rod Sims – who takes home $775,910 a year
Pictured: Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue QC – the second highest-ranking law officer in Australia behind the attorney general – also earns $775,910 a year
Prime Minister Scott Morrison by comparison takes home just under $550,000 when taking into account the 160 per cent loading on top of his ministerial salary
The federal government announced in April all Commonwealth, parliamentary, ministerial and public sector salaries would be frozen.
In May, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced all public sector workers including teachers and nurses would have their pay frozen for a year.
The move will give the government an extra $3billion to pay for public projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy which was devastated by coronavirus.