Pay rises have been decided for Queensland government workers. 

The Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal (QIRT) decided to freeze MPs’ pay rises for up to four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. 

However, it has now overturned its decision, meaning all 93 members of Parliament will receive a 2 per cent pay increase in September this year, a 2.25 per cent rise in March 2022, and another 2.5 per cent in September 2022.

Queensland public service employees are set to receive pay increases of 2.5 per cent in September this year, March 2022 and September 2022.

Salaries for full-time adult employees in all awards were increased by 1.75 per cent in September last year after the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review increased minimum wages.

QIRT said MPs have not had a salary increase since September 1, 2017 and that their pay increases are lagging behind other jurisdictions.

“While the economic forecast and outlook continue to remain uncertain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that the economy is rebounding,” its ruling said.

“The outlook is more positive than at the height of the pandemic in 2020 when the salary levels of members were last considered by the tribunal.”

Currently, the base salary for Queensland politicians is Australia’s third-lowest, alongside Western Australia and Tasmania.

In 2020, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was the third-highest paid premier in Australia, behind Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews ($441,439) and New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian ($407,980).

Ms Palaszczuk's annual base salary and additional salary will increase from $399,955 to roughly $427,561 by September next year.