Victorian assembly salaries ‘on par with MPs’

A spokesperson for the First Peoples’ Assembly in Victoria has justified the salaries for members of the new Gellung Wari when elections begin in April.

A State document has revealed that members will receive a base salary of $197,683 – double the $96,946 provided to their predecessors who negotiated the Treaty.

This salary will also be topped up with a $29,851 for those given additional responsibilities.

The total wage bill for the assembly is said to be $6.8 million.

But the spokesperson told the Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne the salary packages compared to that of State MPs, who receive a base salary of $211,972, and said the additional “stipends” were set by an independent remuneration tribunal.

Comparable to MPs

“Members’ responsibilities are like those of State MPs, and include making decisions on behalf of and advocating for their constituents, preparing for and participating in briefings and meetings, attending community events and meeting with and listening to community members as well as engaging with and building relationships with the broader Victorian community,” the spokesperson said.

Critics have argued the salaries as “obscene”, saying they are double the annual salary of ordinary Victorians.

Victoria became the first State to sign a treaty with its Indigenous population last year, with parliament passing legislation to establish a permanent First People’s Assembly.

Victoria is currently transitioning its treaty framework into three distinct arms: Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna (truth-telling), Nginma Ngainga Wara (accountability), and the elected First Peoples’ Assembly.