Hear Steve Price last night saying that Victorian Tram drivers are looking for more money, even though they now get $180,000 pa! I don't know about the $180k, but they could earn $125, 000 in 2015.

How on earth could a tram driver be worth that much? Transport workers are vital, and I would be the last person to denigrate them; but just how much training and skill does it take to stop and start an electric tram running on fixed lines (no need to even steer them)

Don't come up with the old unsociable and shift-work excuse. Nurses, police, ambos etc do the same thing for a lot less.

From http://melbournetramdriver.blogspot.com

For a job that requires a license and a month's training.

If you salary figures are correct taking the above statement into account that is crazy

Can't find salary for tram driver but found current job add for Sydney train drivers but the salary is way below what you quoted for tram driver, I would have expected them to be closer.

"Total Remuneration Package: Upon completion of training, salary between $70,126 - $75,448 plus 9.5% superannuation, shift allowances and leave loading."

You would have to do a lot of overtime to get close to $180K.

According to Yarra Trams' website -

Tram drivers - $77 to 80,000 - in their first year.

Authorised Officers - the average is $80 to 85,000.

Still looking found this absolutely crazy it is on 457 visa program.

Yarra Trams offers foreigners lucrative tram depot jobs

YARRA Trams is recruiting foreigners to manage its depots even though many locals are looking for work.

The tram operator has posted job vacancies for the position of tram driver and depot manager on job websites in Britain, offering salary packages of up to $140,000. It includes sponsorship under the skilled ­worker 457 visa program.

Over the past three years the company has advertised a number of lucrative positions, including performance managers and business unit managers, under the 457 temporary visa scheme.

More than 10 Yarra Trams employees have 457 visas

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/yarra-trams-offers-foreigners-lucrative-tram-depot-jobs/news-story/b1722d1b94e8d227e4c04b8238f5a294?nk=ed73e5621d15a62f9dbd95cf34ca36f2-1493370358

So where is turnbull on this one that is 10 jobs Australians could do, the tax being paid by the foreigners does not cover the unemployment benefits to the Australians sitting at home.

Sensationalism should not be a requirement for discussion. Sufficient research needs to be partaken to qualify.

Tram drivers are known as light rail operators.

Is Steve Price a liar? Was the SMH lying about $125k in 2015?

would have to see the article to see, the only way I can see is a real lot of overtime possible also no holidays taken in that year as well by an employee and he used that persons overall wage for his calculation.

My son is a Sydney Bus driver, he earns $80K-$90K gross pa. But the base rate is less than $30/hr. Due to a shortage of drivers, about 30% of new starters don't last beyond 3 months, there is plenty of o/t available. To get the so called big bucks involves plenty of 9 days straight broken shifts (can't work more than 9 straight) then one day off, driving the large bendy buses through peak hour traffic etc.
What were the majority doing at 3am on ANZAC day? Home in bed fast asleep. My son was ferrying the 'two-up and spew-up' brigade, that's what he calls them, they play two-up during the day, drink lots of piss, then if your unlucky one will spew up on you. that's how you earn the big bucks driving public transport.

People who rely on the internet for all their information should be aware that web sites are not always kept up to date.

The ones dealing with jobs are. They have to be
in order to succeed in their recruitment.
Yarra Trams website is current.

Foxy correct, same as mine also states "found current job add".

Anyone know how much a trashy mouthed shock jock like Steve Price is paid? I bet its a hell of a lot more than $180,000 p/a. If productivity was a guide this mug wouldn't be worth 50 cents. What do they produce of value compared to say a tram driver? Nothing!

G'day there PAUL1405...

So your son is a Sydney Omnibus driver is he? Well in my humble opinion he'd have one of the toughest, most nerve wracking jobs in the whole of Christendom. To continually have to maneuver a large public vehicle in the CBD of Sydney with masses of traffic, and the 'light rail' disruptions - well I 'dips me lid to 'im', as the Cockney's often say! Taxi drivers complain, and they have a tough gig, so we can only imagine what our bus drivers have to contend with, only worse in my view.

Not just the hazardous driving conditions, but the anti-social passengers, and the many rude and inconsiderate passengers, in fact the whole nine yards! Many a time when I was in uniform we had to deal with minor disturbances and assaults, occasioned upon many of these poor buggers, just trying to do their job. Myself and those I worked with, we generally threw the book at anybody we caught playing up with drivers, their job is bloody hard enough, without some of the City's boofheads carrying on as well. Good on your Son Paul1405.

I always make a point of saying thank you to a bus driver when I get off.
If you click for the advert you will see it is marked as no longer available !
I'll bet it went off 5 minutes after Steve Price mentioned it !

Those interested in the salaries of Victorian
Tram drivers should also be aware of how much
the local council staff get paid.

For example according to a recent article in our
local paper our Council's CEO gets $320,000 plus
other perks and five weeks annual leave.
Twenty six Council staff earned from $130,000
to $320,000 in the last year ending last June.
And, the combined incomes of the five most highly
paid officers jumped from $1,106 million to $1,185 plus
million. Each year this is increased even further.
Nice work if you can get it.

And what about our politicians in State and Federal
positions? What are their salaries and perks?

Anyone interested in their jobs?

http://www.open.edu.au/careers/transport/drivers-train-tram

What do they do for $180,000?

What do they do in local councils for their salaries
or the politicians for theirs?
At least tram drivers drive passengers et cetera.