The Queensland Greens have condemned the Labor government’s real pay cut for front line public servants.
Greens MP Michael Berkman said:
“After inflation, a wage freeze is a real wage cut for public servants, many of whom are on the front line of fighting the pandemic.
“Nurses, teachers, cleaners and government call-centre workers are heroes, and this is a slap in the face right out of the LNP playbook.
“We’re in a once-in-a-generation jobs and economic crisis, and giving workers a pay cut now will cut spending and make unemployment even worse.
“We should pay for this crisis by making sure mining companies and big corporations pay their fair share, not by punishing front-line public servants.
“Just one example: over the last five years alone, mining and gas corporations have exported over $270 billion worth of coal, gas and minerals from Queensland and paid only 8% in royalties.
“I support politicians taking a pay cut, but the scheduled pay increments have always been aimed at the lowest-paid public servants, not the higher-ups.
“Cutting wages for public servants is pure LNP ideology. Campbell Newman himself has actually been pushing for it this week.