More drongoes, fewer creeps, please

This is the first time a mainstream politician hasn't been a greedy, slimy bastard who has voted himself a pay-rise over and above what ordinary workers receive: Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister with a difference.

What I want to say most of all is that if Tony Abbott is whinging about something, you just know it's a good idea.

We need to be able to face the Australian community in the eye and say that we in the privileged position of this place are doing one small bit when it comes to exercising some wage restraint on our part."

He called on the nation's corporate barons to curb their multimillion dollar salaries. When politicians' pay was next increased in July 2009, there would be no catch-up provision allowed for this year's freeze. "I would hope that those in the most privileged positions in the corporate sector also reflect carefully on the need for CEO wage restraint in the year ahead," Mr Rudd said.

Politicians receive a wage rise from the independent Remuneration Tribunal every July, always above the rate of inflation. But the average worker's pay rise is usually related to inflation. Last year, MPs' pay rose almost 7 per cent, taking a backbencher's salary to $127,060.

Dr Nelson said the pay freeze sent the right signal that "we want to make a contribution".

The Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott, who took a $90,000 cut when the Coalition lost the election, implied it was an easy gesture for Mr Rudd to make because his wife, Therese Rein, was a millionaire. "It's all very well for politicians who have other sources of income or who have very high income from their spouses," he said.

Bitch bitch bitch. Tony Abbott should just remember that until the Senate changes hands, the Howard government's WorkChoices is still in place, and if he doesn't like his pay and conditions he should just go and get another job. After all, that was always the Howard government's advice to workers. Anyone who can't manage their finances responsibly on a $127 000- $200 000 salary can't be trusted with running the country.

"Keep this up and you'll fill the Parliament up with millionaires, creeps and drongoes," one Liberal MP said.

I dunno about the drongoes, but millionaires? A few. Creeps? Just about all of them.

A Labor MP concurred with Mr Abbott about Mr Rudd's millionaire wife. "We still have to pay increased mortgages when interest rates go up," he said.

He blasted his colleagues in cabinet, saying it was easy for them to agree to such stunts because they all received huge pay rises as ministers.

Yeah... someone's obviously living beyond their means... fancy bitching about how hard it is to pay a mortgage on a $127 000 salary when a lot of working couples don't even reach that amount on their combined income. Man, that creep has a fucking hide. I still reckon pollies' pay ought to be tied to the minimum wage, so whenever they are given a pay rise by the 'independent' remuneration tribunal our lowest-paid workers get a raise too.