On the eve of a statewide instructor strike over pay and circumstances, Labor is slamming what it calls "hypocrisy" from Premier Dominic Perrottet, with the federal government's high advisers changing into eligible for a serious elevate.
Unions throughout a number of important workforces, together with paramedics, nurses and academics, have staged rolling strikes this 12 months in a marketing campaign in opposition to the state's public sector wage cap, which limits annual pay rises to 2.5 per cent.
Whereas underneath strain over the cap, the Premier has repeatedly mentioned he is making an attempt to "steadiness" the finances, however 9News can reveal a choose group of high authorities advisers turned eligible for a 9 per cent elevate final 12 months.
The highest wage on supply for essentially the most senior ministerial workers has soared from $320,000 in 2020 to 354,000 final 12 months as a part of the creation of a brand new pay band, which places their wage above that of just about the complete cupboard.
The Deputy Premier's take-home packet tops out at $343,460, whereas senior ministers earn $326,541 and different ministers pocket $309,621.
The brand new high wage can also be double the $191,000 earned by essentially the most skilled college principals.
Labor's training spokeswoman, Prue Automobile, slammed the bumper raises, saying it "does not move any pub take a look at".
"It is at all times one rule for this authorities and one other rule for everybody else, and indicative of how out of contact this authorities is with staff in NSW," she mentioned.
"Whereas nurses, academics and different frontline staff are having to march within the streets for truthful pay, the Perrottet Authorities's political workers are getting huge pay rises."
The revelations come as academics throughout the state put together to strike for the second time in six months tomorrow.
The Lecturers Federation has rejected an Eleventh-hour bid to halt the motion, with President Angelo Gavrielatos declaring the Authorities has "failed".
"The scenario is unsustainable. Greater than 70 per cent of academics are reporting that they are contemplating choices apart from instructing," he mentioned.
An Industrial Relations Fee listening to which might have locked in a 2.04 per cent pay rise for academics this 12 months has been pushed again till after the finances, with the intention to give the Premier an opportunity to assessment his wages coverage.
"I can not decide to you that the choice that we land on will fulfill the considerations and the problems the Lecturers Federation have," Mr Perrottet mentioned.
The Premier confronted a second spherical of dissent as he visited Parramatta Public College this morning, with academics staging a walkout whereas carrying union posters earlier than class started.