Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gives staff pay rises
THE Prime Minister has secretly paid two senior advisers - including his "boy wonder" chief of staff, Alister Jordan - special top-up payments to bolster their $200,000-plus incomes.
Despite calling on workers to defer pay claims, Mr Rudd intervened to have a salary bonus paid to Mr Jordan, his 29-year-old long-serving confidant.
Another senior adviser has also breached the Government's official salary cap, boosting his "principal adviser" salary above the top level of $192,000.
Mr Jordan has worked side-by-side with Mr Rudd for six years and is one offour Government advisers paid at the top "principal adviser" level.
With superannuation and overtime added to salaries, principal advisers earn close to $250,000 in annual income.
The revelations of the top-up payments are embarrassing for the PM, who on Monday night called on workers to show wage restraint as Australia rockets towards recession.
Posted by: Fred 2009-01-21 |