Queensland MPs keep perks as federal salaries get overhaul

Brlsbane

QUEENSLAND MPs are pocketing $34,000-a-year more than their counterparts in Canberra and stand to gain a huge windfall under plans to overhaul federal salaries.
The Rudd Government is investigating granting MPs a pay rise in return for tightening other perks in a move that would deliver extra cash to State members, whose salaries are linked to Canberra.
However State MPs would get to keep their lucrative perks, which can amount to a de facto salary boost of up to $100,000-a-year.
Chief Opposition Whip, Alex Somlyay, said it was only fair that the Queensland Government should follow the federal lead and submit its salary system to an accountability review.
Analysis prepared by his office shows the average federal MP receives $163,040-a-year in take-home salary and allowances, while a backbencher in Queensland gets $197,212.
"It's quite apparent that members of Queensland Parliament are remunerated far in excess of Federal parliamentarians," Mr Somlyay told The Courier-Mail.
"What I believe is happening federally in this process is to make the pay and conditions of parliamentarians absolutely transparent and the states should follow suit."
Mr Somlyay, the member for Fairfax on the Sunshine Coast, said any boost to Federal MPs' salaries could be pocketed by Queensland politicians, widening the pay gap between Canberra and Brisbane.
The Courier-Mail revealed last week a high-powered federal committee, due to report by April, supports a hefty boost to federal salaries to offset cuts to entitlements worth up to $60,000.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced a 3.1 per cent pay rise for State MPs before Christmas, taking the base salary from $126,560 to $130,540, plus a 2 per cent boost to allowances.
Under Queensland law, MPs' pay is set at $500 less than the base salary of a Federal backbencher, who earns $131,040. However, Queensland MPs are entitled to more generous electorate allowances of between $36,652 and $72,741 plus a $30,020 miscellaneous allowance.
Both allowances are taxed and, under the rules, MPs can keep the cash for themselves or spend it on electorate costs and claim a tax deduction.
The State Government would not comment on whether it would review MPs' entitlements in the wake of the federal overhaul.