WARD SUPPORTS POLLIES PAY FREEZE

Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP is supporting an amendment to the Parliamentary Remuneration Act that will freeze the pay packets of politicians until 2025.

Mr Ward said with inflation driving up the cost of living it was more important to put money into the pockets of households not politicians.

“Many families across the electorates of our State are doing it tough with rising interest rates and increase cost of living pressures,” Mr Ward said.

“It is entirely appropriate that, given the tough circumstances families face, we lead by example. Therefore, I totally endorse the government's wish to freeze members' wages for two years.

“You enter politics to make a difference – you don’t enter politics to feather your own nest. I supported former Premier Barry O’Farrell’s move to remove the politician’s pension and I support this pay freeze.

“I never entered politics for the money, in fact as I have said before anyone who goes into politics for the money is either stupid or corrupt – usually people who do enter the caper for the dollars hold both of those qualities.

“I commend the NSW Labor Government for finally managing to come good on an election promise and I hope to see the money saved from the freeze go towards keeping important initiatives like the Regional Seniors Travel Card,” Mr Ward concluded.