Senior public servants pocket second pay rise in 12 months, with an extra $50k

Some of the State’s highest-paid public servants are set for a major pay rise, pocketing salary increases of up to $50,000 from the start of next month. Already paid more than five times the salary of the average WA government worker, the high-ranking fat cats were quietly awarded the pay bumps by the independent Salaries and Allowances Tribunal at the start of February — their second raise in less than 12 months. Under Treasurer Michael Barnes, Public Sector Commissioner Sharyn O’Neill, Premier and Cabinet director-general Emily Roper, Police Commissioner Col Blanch and Education boss Lisa Rodgers will all see their annual take-home pay skyrocket to almost $508,000. That’s an increase of 8.5 per cent on their previous salary of $468,209. Bosses at the departments of Communities, Justice and Transport will all see the salaries jump from $426,809 to $468,502 — a rise of 9.7 per cent. The biggest winner in the determination was Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm, whose salary will increase a whopping $52,786, from $376,234 to more than $429,000. The pay increases kick in from March 1. The Sunday Times understands the salary increases have been driven by remuneration for WA’s highest-level positions falling behind comparable interstate counterparts. It is the second time the public servants have had a pay increase in the past 12 months, with all benefitting from the Government’s 3 per cent wages policy last June. At the time, the tribunal flagged further increases to public-sector salaries amid trouble attracting and retaining staff. “The tribunal notes the current attraction and retention concerns experienced in the public sector and the impact limited salary increases over the medium term have had, along with broader employment market conditions,” the determination reads. “While a general salary increase has been applied to positions in this determination, further work will be undertaken to ensure salaries are more appropriately aligned to reflect resourcing objectives and long-term value.” It is understood the tribunal will continue to update salaries over the coming months. The tribunal caused a stir when it also paid a $3000 cost-of-living bonus to the senior public servants and State MPs in June. The bonus came on top of Premier Roger Cook’s salary of $377,485, while Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti earns $321,602 a year. Ministers and Opposition Leader Shane Love are paid $294,457. The $3000 cost-of-living payment was announced in September 2022 to win over several unions amid industrial action with the Government. The payments were made by a determination from Government Sector Labour Relations and were not referenced in the tribunal’s order, which delivered highly paid departmental bosses a 3 per cent pay increase.