Victorian voters are outraged that state MPs are set to receive a big pay rise – the second in two years.
Jacinta Allan is now the highest paid Premier in the country, with a pay package of half a million dollars including benefits.
But Deputy Premier Ben Carroll surprised some of his parliamentary colleagues by announcing today that he will donate his pay rise to UNICEF.
All MPs received a 3.5% pay rise from the new financial year, totalling around $1 million.
Ordinary MPs now earn more than $200,000, while MPs also received an increase in allowances.
They can also claim 3.4% more for car expenses, 3.6% more for travel expenses and an additional 6.1% per constituent in election allowances.
The decisions were made by an independent tribunal, but come against a backdrop of cuts to hospitals, a ballooning national debt and huge pressure on the cost of living.
However, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are on holiday and have not said whether they will also be donating their pay rises to charity.
