14.2% for Ray Stevens, 2.7% for Teachers

Media Release

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Newman Government’s newest Assistant Minister will receive a 14.2% pay rise to oversee the implementation of a Labor government policy.

“In the Estimates Committee hearing today I presented information showing the Premier’s New York-style initiative on open government is in fact a carry-over from the previous government,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The Premier has spent a lot of time and energy talking up this ‘Gov 2.0’ initiative which had its origins in Labor’s Q2 through ICT Strategy and was canvassed in a Public Service Commission discussion paper released under the former government in February this year.”

Ms Palaszczuk tabled the discussion paper at today’s Estimates Committee hearing.

“The previous government’s discussion paper uses as an example the New York ‘open data’ initiative,” she said.

“It shows just how threadbare the Newman Government’s cupboard is when it comes to new ideas.

“It also means Mr Newman’s new Assistant Minister for e-government Ray Stevens will spend his time implementing a Labor Party idea.

“For this Mr Stevens will be given a 14.2% pay rise at a time teachers have had to accept a 2.7% wage offer and the government is offering a 2.35% rise to government workers.

“The Premier should explain why Mr Stevens’ new role could not be undertaken by the existing Minister for ICT,” Ms Palaszczuk said.