Keeping the bureaucrats on side
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
We have a very distorted view of the value of work - well certain work anyway.
How can the work produced by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police suddenly be worth an extra $100,000 per year. Overnight.
It's becoming a part of the public service culture, that we constantly ratchet up the "worth" of various jobs. One boss gets a rise, the boss of the next department then points to the relativity of his job versus that one and he gets a rise too. And on it goes.
If a job search failed to produce a suitably qualified candidate, and the reason was demonstrably because the money on offer was in adequate, that would be a supportable reason to increase the pay.
But the public service culture that leads to the style of review that led to Miss Gillard's pay exceeding President Obama's, needs to be changed. Urgently.
Top bureaucrats awarded pay boost
- Date
- December 18, 2012 - 12:00PM
Ross Peake, Christopher Knaus
Photo: Tanya Lake
The salary package of the Australian Federal Police commissioner will jump by $100,000 to $650,000 after a sweeping review of the responsibilities of senior officials.
The director-general of ASIO will also have a $100,00 pay rise, from $500,000 to $600,000.
The Remuneration Tribunal says the pay rises for the mostly Canberra-based jobs will be phased in during the next 18 months.
The Australian Public Service Commissioner will enjoy a package of $600,000 a year.
The salary of the vice-chief of the Australian Defence Force will rise from $460,000 to $550,000 while the pay of the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force will rise from $440,000 to $525,000.
The pay of the director-general of the Office of National Assessments increases from $450,000 to $525,000 and that of the Australian Electoral Commissioner from $400,000 to $500,000.
Running Old Parliament House will be worth $325,000 while the chief executive of the National Capital Authority will receive $300,000.
In June the tribunal proposed increasing the AFP commissioner's package to $600,000 but has settled on the higher figure, about $12,500 a week.
The average full-time worker, by comparison, earns $74,900, while the average federal bureaucrat earns $81,900.
Thanks to reader Kerry for the tip.