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Western Port
realestate 14 May 2013
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Vogue on Venice
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14 May – 20 May 2013 2013 3
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Tea for charity WOMEN from Hastings VIEW club raise their cups to raise money for the Smith Family’s “learning for life” program to help primary school children. Club members also help provide breakfast and asist with the reading program at Westpark Primary School. Tea time on Friday was held at a member’s house in Hastings. Gathered at the house of Joan Dillon, centre right, are Wendy Gamble, Shirley Baxter, Rita Van Gunst, Barbara Farley, Kaye Beek, Margaret Coble, Bel Addison, Carol Wilson, Shirley Weeks and Sheila Carney (in butler suit). Picture: Yanni
Big pay day for state MPs By Mike Hast VICTORIAN politicians will earn more than $150,000 a year under legislation introduced on Thursday. MPs will get an expense account of more than $11,000 and superannuation for those elected after 2004 rises from 9 to 15 per cent. For the first time, MPs defeated at an election will receive a “resettlement allowance” of $70,000, equal to six months of basic pay. The allowance also applies to MPs who have been disendorsed by their
parties before a poll. Politicians elected before 2004, who have a generous defined-benefits scheme, will not be eligible for the allowance. The increases have the support of both major parties. In exchange for the increase, some perks would be scrapped, including free entry to the MCG, interstate train travel, free entry to Melbourne Zoo and free airport parking. Last week the state government refused to say how much the changes would cost taxpayers but it has been reported that the new deal could
cost more than $1.8 million a year. The pay rise has angered sections of the community with calls to talkback radio on Friday best summed up by one comment: “This makes my blood boil; no wonder we are so cynical about politicians.” Others said the rises were an insult to police, teachers and nurses who were forced to run long campaigns to win extra pay from the government. But MPs have defended the rises, saying the legislation would break the connection between Victorian MPs and federal politicians.
Under the current system, state MPs are paid the same as federal MPs, less $5700. Last year the federal pay tribunal paved the way for big increases for federal MPs. This would have resulted in a $47,000 rise for some state MPs on 1 July. Hastings MP Neale Burgess said the new legislation would severe the link between state and federal pay rates. “My Coalition colleagues and I will vote to break the link with federal MPs and refuse the almost $50,000
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increase,” he said. “For many years the income of state MPs has been linked directly to that of their federal counterparts. “Instead state MPs will receive a 2.5 per cent increase this year and 2.5 per cent next year.” Frankston’s rebel MP Geoff Shaw reportedly said he would welcome a pay rise. People thought MPs were overpaid and underworked but this was not the case, he said. Nepean MP Martin Dixon and Mornington MP David Morris did not respond before our deadline.
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