Australian politicians get paid well. Does that make them better?

Federal politicians 2.4 % got a wage increase This week, a Backbench deputy’s basic salary to $ 239.270, more than twice The average full -time fee of Australia.

With my calculation – using the political payment data I have compiled since 2022 Siyasals.com -This makes our Federal MPs only by the United States, Israel, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and Germany in Germany.

It is often claimed that higher salaries attract higher caliber politicians. In this case, Australia should be ruled by the most brilliant politicians in the world. However, unfortunately, the evidence of this is as resistant as the Nuclear submarine agreement with Donald Trump.

One issue is that the term “better” is quite subjective. Exactly what kind of “better” politicians do we hope? Is it better educated? More real life experience? Is it more diverse? Is it less corrupted? Whatever hope, evidence shows that higher salaries will probably not deliver it.

There are some research showing that high salaries attract better educated politicians in certain situations. For example, in Brazil, a wage increase for local politicians developed the level of educational levels and working rates of legislators. 2008 A Study. A 35% wage increase in Finland in 2000 An increase in female candidates with post -school qualificationsHowever, it did not make a difference in the educational achievements of male candidates.

However, other studies have found that higher salaries do not improve the education standards of legislators and even have the opposite effect.

2013 Canadian work For Canadian MPs, in the first 1963 and 2001, another, especially young, well -educated candidates designed to attract the parliament has examined two wages. Researchers have concluded that wage increases did not lead to younger, more educated or more qualified Canadian MPs and that the reforms have reached their specified goals.

Although the researchers can attract higher quality candidates to rely on the election of higher salaries, they provide strong incentives for badly qualified individuals to enter politics ”.

Another study found For members of the European Parliament members in the early 2000s, these major wage increases increased the incentive to win the office of lower quality candidates and sent the average education levels of these members back.

Nevertheless, do we need better educated politicians in Australia? University graduates are already highly represented in political life. 85% of the members 47. compared to at least one post -secondary quality of parliament about 64% General Adult Population. Some countries may make sense to actively increase their education levels in parliament, but they are probably not necessary in Australia.

It is also doubtful whether higher political salaries will lead to more economic diversity in parliament.

A 2016 US Study He investigated this issue and examined whether higher salaries encouraged more people to enter the state and local politics than the working -class history. The researchers found a connection between two things, but many people are not in the direction they expect. Instead of increasing the expectations of the working -class politicians, researchers found generous salaries with generous salaries that they were “crowded by career political professionals” in the US states.

The result of the study should say: “activists and political observers should say that the upgrade of legislative salaries will make the office more accessible to medium and working class Americans or reduce class -based political inequalities.”

Another argument for a higher political wage is the claim that deputies will be less sensitive to corruption if only more money is paid.

Rupert Murdoch, an advocate of this line of thought. HE POINTS SİNGAPOR EXAMPLE“The place where every minister is at least 1 million dollars per year and the prime minister is much higher and is not attractive and where you will find anywhere”.

It is true that Singapore has high political salaries and low corruption. Still, Denmark and Finland have a lower corruption than Singapore, Corruption Perceptions IndexAlthough he makes a significant less payment to his politicians.

In the meantime, countries with the lowest points in the index tend to be poorer nations in Africa, where politicians are paid too much compared to local wages. Correlation does not necessarily mean causal.

In fact, a small number of politicians are likely to enter politics only for money. The parliament comes with a series of benefits, including the opportunity to choose, impact, fame and the opportunity to shape the country in their visions.

If they are more worried about money, maybe they’re not suitable for the job, and offer them more money will not make them more appropriate.

Already there is no shortage of people competing for a seat in parliament. 2025 in the Federal Elections, Almost 1,500 candidates 150 Representative Assembly competed for the seat and 40 Senate seats.

It is a matter of opinion whether all of these candidates can be considered as “high quality ,, but evidence shows that it will do little to attract better ones to offer more money.