[Greens-Media] Brown says MPs should lead with wage restraint

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Friday, 8 February 2008

Brown says MPs should lead with wage restraint

Greens Leader Bob Brown will move a motion in the Senate next week
calling on parliamentarians to show wage restraint in response to
inflation pressures.

"Every year for the past three years the Greens have attempted to curb
above-inflation pay increases for parliamentarians and every year the
Labor and the Coalition join together to vote MPs pay increases greater
than the average for other workers," Senator Brown said.

"Inflation pressures do call for wage restraint and politicians should
be leading by example. The Remuneration Tribunal should get a signal of
restraint before it makes its next determination in June. I will move a
motion in the Senate to that effect when Parliament resumes," Senator
Brown said.

The motion reads:

	That the Senate:

	a)	Notes the Reserve Bank's concern about 'significant
inflation pressures' and the Rudd government's call for wage restraint
from Australian workers; 
	b)	Acknowledges that parliamentarians should lead by
example in wage restraint.

"Politicians' salaries have increased at almost double the inflation
rate over the last 14 years. In the last two years alone MPs have
received a 14% pay increase, well above the rate of inflation," Senator
Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603



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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185	

Visit Bob's new myspace site at:
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