Gray earns four times more than Brand families

Brand MHR Gary Gray’s latest pay rise will see him earn four times more per week than the average family household in his electorate of Brand.

The 3 per cent increase, which came into effect on July 1, will see the Special Minister for State take home more than $300,000 a year, or an average weekly income of more than $5700.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 census data revealed the average family weekly income in Brand was $1335.

Mr Gray confirmed last week the latest pay determination for Federal politicians, set by the Remuneration Tribunal, meant his annual salary was now $300,116.

‘‘I know many people believe politicians are over-paid,’’ he said.

‘‘Particularly when today’s boom is not everyone’s boom and families in Kwinana, Rockingham and Mandurah are worried about the cost of living, including electricity, rents, school uniforms, groceries and mortgage rates.’’

Mr Gray said he had been campaigning for a range of measures to help ease cost-of-living pressures to help families make ends meet.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard received a $14,000 pay rise, taking her annual salary to $495,430, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s annual salary is up $10,000 to $352,517.

The base salary for a Federal politician is now $190,550.

Local government chief executives also received a 3.5 per cent pay rise at the start of the new financial year.

The City of Rockingham, along with 17 other councils, has been named in band one, under new classifications.

City chief executive Andrew Hammond will earn between $238,043 to $350,327 this year.

His Town of Kwinana counterpart, Neil Hartley, sits in the second bracket and will rake in between $196,338 to $295,148.

The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal, in its determination, said pay hikes were in accordance with WA’s competitive labour market and the general increase in the cost of living.

Wage disparity

Prime Minister Julia Gillard: $495,430

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott: $352,517

Brand MHR Gary Gray: $300,116

City of Rockingham CEO: $238,043 to $350,327

Town of Kwinana CEO: $196,338 to $295,148

Average Brand income: $69,420 ($1,336 p/w)