Daniel Bradley,

I have known many politicians. I found them invariably keen to make the world a better place for me, so long as I did what they told me.

In pleading for a better wage for them, are you doing what they told you or are you thinking of a career in politics?

You might need to get out more, Rhian.

>>But I have seldom met a politician of any party who was in it mainly for the money...<<

Sorry, but with the sole exception of the already-super-rich, they are all looking at the financial rewards - not just now, but once they are out of parliament. They go on to attach themselves to company Boards like so many leeches, fly around on their golden tickets, become "lobbyists", wallow in their obscene pensions... and that's only the legitimate bits.

If they were sincerely indifferent to the cash, they would humbly accept that they are already overpaid for what they do, and simply buckle down to do a credible job for their constituents. But no, they keep coming back to the trough for more, more, more...

They're all just boils on the bum of democracy.

How much do we pay the children in our armed services, to risk their lives for their country?
Do we really want our political leaders to be more mercenary and less patriotic than the kids who are prepared to sacrifice their lives?
Parliament isn't called the 'House of Administration'. It's called the house of representatives, but who do they represent? In tax bracket terms, less than 5% of the nation.
These people are so disconnected from reality it's beyond unbelievable. To find out what "average" Australians are thinking, they have to commission studies -run by Uni graduates!
As to productivity, first we need to establish what it is exactly we want our representatives to produce.
I would think that should be bleeding obvious; a better life for all Australians and their children.
Therefore, politicians pay rises should be linked -DOLLAR for DOLLAR- to the median -NOT the average- wage.
In the USA, it is recognised that while the salaries of upper management and executives has skyrocketed, the median wage has dropped to 1990's levels.
In Australia, we never even hear the median wage mentioned.
If the last couple of decades have demonstrated anything, it should be this:
People who are really good at making big bucks, are really good at making big bucks.
For themselves.

Paying politician's like we do, just shows how much we value the position. Heads of Departments get more than the Ministers who they answer too.
We pay many of our sportsmen (though it seems not sportswomen)more than most politicians. Bank executives get millions for presiding over private companies. A geologist can get more than a backbencher as can many professional and contract positions.

Unless we value the position of PM and other political jobs, then who will want to go into them? And how can we complain about them...we, as a country, clearly do not value what they do.

My final point is that if you are so disappointed with the quality of politicians, then I suggest you go and stand for election yourself

Well you see, Phil Matimein, that's very much part of the problem.

>>My final point is that if you are so disappointed with the quality of politicians, then I suggest you go and stand for election yourself<<

You know perfectly well that to become a politician (as opposed to merely "standing for election") you have to be part of a Party machine. It's pretty much a closed shop, as you are either obliged to kick and scratch your way through the pre-selection system, or be already rich and influential - like a Malcolm Turnbull, for example.

It is the system that creates the candidates, and it is the system that ensures we get such low quality from which to make our "selection". The vast majority couldn't run a fish and chip shop. And those who can run a fish and chip shop...

Paying more isn't going to attract a better class of contender - it will still be the same old riff-raff, only they will be hungrier than ever to get their hands on the loot, and willing to take on all-comers along the way. If anything, it will increase, rather than decrease, the potential for corruption, with the objective that much more desirable.

"If anything, it will increase, rather than decrease, the potential for corruption, with the objective that much more desirable."
Exactly.
Politics is a gravy train, and always will be a gravy train until we all recognise that there are other compensations -particularly in public office!- than just money, or even that they are waited on hand and foot with toadies aplenty.
If egotism is mandatory, a good name in the history books should still be more important than a place at the trough.
Honour among thieves is largely a myth. The truth is, mercenaries are always for sale, to whomever offers the most money.