Australia’s next governor-general will pocket more than $709,000 after receiving a 43 per cent pay rise compared to her predecessor.
Sam Mostyn will be sworn in on July 1 as Australia’s 28th governor-general and will receive a salary of $709,017 for each year of her five-year term.
The paycheck is significantly larger than the $495,000 paid each year to outgoing head of state David Hurley.
The huge increase has infuriated the leader of the Republican movement.
“Australians are suffering a cost of living crisis,” said Australian Republican Movement national director Isaac Jeffrey.
Incoming Governor-General Sam Mostyn (pictured left alongside Anthony Albanese) will earn a much higher salary than his predecessor.
Australia’s next governor-general will pocket more than $709,000 after receiving a 43 per cent pay rise compared to her predecessor.
‘They will see the government’s announcement of a 42 per cent pay rise for the next governor-general and wonder what they will get for that investment.
“He is not a representative of the people, because the governor-general represents the king, not the Australians.”
Legislation was introduced into federal parliament on Monday that will secure Ms Mostyn’s salary.
The incoming governor-general’s salary will be higher because Mostyn has not collected Commonwealth payments, such as the military pensions Hurley received after his service in the defense forces.
Sydney University constitutional lawyer Anne Twomey said governors-general with military or judicial backgrounds would often opt for a lower salary in office because of their other pay.
“Since Sir William Deane’s time as Governor-General, it has been customary for the Governor-General to request that their salary be reduced by the amount of any annual Commonwealth pension they receive,” he told AAP.
‘As the new governor general does not have a military or judicial pension, her salary will necessarily be higher.
“Therefore, any fair comparison should take into account the pensions of their predecessors.”
The Governor General’s salary is determined by the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice and is not increased by factors such as inflation during the term of office.
“It is standard practice for the governor-general’s remuneration to be set slightly above the estimated average salary of the chief justice,” a spokesperson for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said.
“The governor general’s salary is set before he takes office and, according to the Constitution, cannot be changed during his term.”
As preparations are made for Mrs Mostyn’s swearing-in, a painting of the outgoing Governor-General has been unveiled in Parliament.
The official portrait, done by artist Jude Rae, shows Hurley standing in a forest that had been hit by wildfires, with trees showing signs of recovery.
Hurley, who regularly toured regions affected by wildfires, said the background of the portrait was significant.
“Actually, the background is much more important in this portrait, because it is about us as a country,” he said.
“When you look at it, it’s about us as a people, and we represent some of the hardships that we’ve experienced in the nation over the last five years.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Hurley’s service as Governor-General during the inauguration.
“This new portrait represents the culmination of an extraordinary life of public service,” he said.
