New laws to freeze the pay of Members of Parliament and the State’s senior public servants are one step closer, following their passage through the Legislative Council.
The pay freeze will remain in effect for the next four years, assisting with the important task of repairing the State’s finances.
Premier Mark McGowan announced the pay freeze in May, as part of the WA Government’s new wages policy for the public sector. The wages policy provides an increase of $1,000 per year for all other public sector workers, including police, nurses and teachers.
Once passed, the pay freeze is expected to save taxpayers $16 million.
The Bill also makes clear that once the pay freeze expires in 2021, the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal will not be able to compensate MPs for the pay increases they may have received if it were not for this legislation.
Nor will it be able to take into account the changes in the CPI.
With the passage of the Bill through the Legislative Council, it will return to the Legislative Assembly in order to pass a final amendment when State Parliament resumes in February.