News
Fat Cat Splurge |
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Eleven top public servants employed in the Premier’s own department earn more than $240,000 a year.
The top executive receives more than $380,000 a year – $130,000 more than the salary of Premier Rann. The Premier’s department had just one employee earning more than $240,000 when Mr Rann came to power in 2002. That person received about $250,000.
“Hard-working families will be angered that the Premier has given fat pay rises to the top public servants in his own department,” said Shadow Public Sector Management Minister Steven Griffiths.
“The message this sends is that Premier Rann values his top bureaucrats more than the teachers, nurses and police who have had to battle for pay rises. Maybe the Premier should review the salaries of his most senior bureaucrats before he axes 1600 public servants to cover his financial mismanagement,” Mr Griffiths said.
Premier Rann’s salary splurge spearheads the record 4000 South Australian public servants who earn more than $100,000 a year. The State had only 782 fat cats in 2002.
In a written reply this week to a question asked in Parliament, the Premier revealed that in 2007/08 there were 11 senior public servants earning more than $240,000. They were:
• Chief Executive Officer, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
• 2 x Deputy Chief Executives, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
• 3 x Executive Directors, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
• Deputy President, Workers Compensation Tribunal.
• 2 x Commissioner, Workers Compensation Tribunal
• Commissioner for Public Employment
• Chief Executive Officer, Government Reform Commission.
Mr Griffiths said the Premier had reneged on a promise in Parliament to name the top earners. Asked in November about who earned over $240,000, Mr Rann promised “I will get you a specific definitive list so that we can put a name next to each person”.
“Don’t listen to what Premier Rann says, watch what he does,” Mr Griffiths said.