Individual,
You seem to have quite a fanciful idea of what unions do. The politicians' salaries are set by politicians, not unions!

Indeed considering Labor have been in opposition for nearly eight years, your trying to blame Labor politicians looks like you haven't a clue what you're on about.

>Also, tell us if it's ok with you that a Public Servant can only be gotten rid of by promoting them out ?
Of course it isn't - I've heard of some of the problems that causes in India. But I don't believe that is the case in Australia.

>Shouldn't we let the show recover before asking for more pay ?
Arguably we should; the FWC looked at both sides of the argument and considered otherwise.

Wrong again Aidan.

Politicians salaries are set by a commission, the same one that sets judges salaries. Of course the commission probably relate their own salaries to the politicians, so it might be a bureaucrat scratching the politicians back, but not quite the same thing.

Aidan,
Hasbeen's post says what I wanted to add. Anyhow, The Public Sector/service Union/s don't appear to understand as you don't appear to understand also is, that ANY pay rise invariably results in price & services cost rises.
Please tell us why you don't think Unions aren't playing a part in the uncompetitiveness of Australian industry when they demand increased pay ?
Would it not be wiser & far more sustainable to freeze very high public salaries & gradually reduce the number of such bureaucrat position by natural attrition ?
If & only if one such position will be required later then reduce the salary to a morally acceptable level.
If you're not sure what moral means please take the time & Google it !

Hasbeen,
OK, so they have a commission to do it now. But the fact remains: contrary to Individual's claim, unions aren't involved.

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>The Public Sector/service Union/s don't appear to understand as you don't appear to
>understand also is, that ANY pay rise invariably results in price & services cost rises.

BECAUSE IT ISN'T TRUE!

What they and I understand (and you have just proven you don't) is that higher prices are just one of three main ways of funding higher wages. The other two ways are lower profits and increasing productivity.

The profits to wages ratio of the Australian economy has risen significantly over the past few decades, so don't be too quick to dismiss the former option.

Increasing productivity can stem from changes to workplace practice, but the biggest productivity gains are usually from application of improving technology (including increased mechanisation).

>Would it not be wiser & far more sustainable to freeze very high public salaries &
>gradually reduce the number of such bureaucrat position by natural attrition ?
Not if it results in a loss of capability. High salaries aren't the only way governments waste money, and far more will be wasted if they don't have the competence to do the job well. High salaries aren't necessarily a problem, but failing to get our money's worth is.

I am well aware of what moral means, but I don't believe good moral judgements come from looking at issues in the simplistic one dimensional way you do.

How much an hour does the highest paid employee in Australia receive? The answer may shock, its $21,760/hr or $43 million/year, up 13% on last year. Who is this highly paid high flyer of an employee, head of a big bank, or the worlds biggest mining company? Nah its Pascal Soriot, never heard of him, its the bloke who can afford $8 million for a house. Good old Pascal is the head of AstraZeneca the two bob company the Australian taxpayer poured millions into so it could produce its next to useless vaccine in Melbourne. Now Australia pays through the neck for their cheap vaccine.

Indy why begrudge hardworking, low paid Australians a modest 2.5% pay rise. Once you said on this Forum, your aged welfare increase hardly got you another schooner down at 'God's Waiting Room'.

Paul1405,
And, how much are the Australian taxpayers forking out for you being of no use to anyone ?