PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS 21 JUNE 1978
REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL REVIEW
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced today that Ministers
would not accept the increases in Ministerial salary and
allowances proposed in the Remuneration Tribunal's 1978 Review.
When the Parliament resumes in August, the Government will move
for the disallowance of the Tribunal's Determinations Nos. 6 and 7
which provided for increases in the special allowance and
travelling allowance of Ministers, and in the salary, special
allowances, and travelling allowance of office holders of the
Parliament. The Government will also not proceed with implementation of the
Tribunal's Report No. 1, which proposed increases in Ministerial
salaries.
Mr Fraser said that Ministers felt strongly that they should be
setting an example of restraint to the community.
In its submission to the Tribunal the Government had emphasised
that it considered there should be no salary increases for
persons within the Tribunal's jurisdiction, stating its
belief that such offices are appropriate areas for establishing
an example of restraint.
It had pointed out to the Tribunal that the Government's overall
commitment to wage restraint had formed the basis of its submission
to National Wage/ Indexation hearings, when it had opposed any
rise in award wages.. If, however, the Tribunal did not accept
the Government's argument, the Government suggested there should
not be any increase greater than that applying from a " flow on"
of the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission decisions to those
office holders who had not received any increases since last year.
Regrettably, the Tribunal had-not accepted the thrust of the
Governnent' s argument.
Mr Fraser said, however, that the Government was prepared to abide
by the Tribunal's other findings. This would allow all Senators
and Members to receive salary increases based on national wage
case decisions which had already been received by other wage and
salary earners. Senior public servants and statutory office
holders were in a similar position. The Tribunal's recommendations
in respect of Judges would be accepted.