Bipartisan Backing for Australian Governor-General’s 43 Percent Pay Raise

The Australian government plans to give the incoming governor-general a pay rise of over $214,000, saying Sam Mostyn—unlike her predecessors—would not be paid a military pension, and therefore her total remuneration would be less. Under a Bill introduced to Parliament on June 24, the salary for the role will rise from $495,000 to $709,017 (US$472,953)—a rise of 43 percent. Ms. Mostyn will be sworn into her largely ceremonial role on July 1, and existing law prohibits raising the governor-general’s salary during their term of office, leaving the government in a rush to push through the raise before she assumes office. The federal opposition indicated it would support the Bill despite describing it as a “deep embarrassment for the government”—but only because of the last-minute rush....