Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, , 5:54:16 to 5:56:49
Senator Roberts questions whether Aboriginal appointees receive a salary premium. The NIAA clarifies that all salaries are determined by standard APS rules and regulations with no heritage-based pay differences.
Topics: Public service staffing, Workplace relations
Speakers: Senator Malcolm Roberts, Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Julie-Ann Guivarra, Unknown Speaker, Senator Karen Grogan
>> Thank you, Chair. Thank you for appearing. Is it true that some National Indigenous Australians Agency funded positions pay a 4% premium in salary to Aboriginal appointees above what would be paid to non-Aboriginal >> No difference in pay between a between a non-abboriginal and an Aboriginal. Uh
Senator, our uh salaries are determined um in accordance with regular APS um rules and regulations. So um there is no difference in the way that uh First Nations staff of the agency are are paid as opposed to uh non-indigenous staff.
Are you aware that some people in Australia are paid a premium uh because they're Aboriginal literally?
>> No, Senator, I'm not aware of that.
>> Yeah, one last question. where that's going on in Australia. Isn't that a case of uh
>> Senator? I think I've indicated I'm not aware of there being instances of that in the first place. So, I can't answer a secondary question around uh what
happens of that. >> We know that that's occurring in places. Isn't that uh discrimination against non-abboriginals?
>> Senator Roberts, uh the agency's clearly said no. Uh it's not happening. So you are embarking on a pathway that is unnecessary and uh
>> correct correct me if I'm wrong minister the agency said they're not aware of anybody being paid within the agency. >> We've heard that there are people outside the agency being paid a premium. Isn't that uh discrimination?
>> Well, Senator Roberts, that's a really broad question. It can occur anywhere. No, no, hang on. Everyone has an opportunity whatever circumstance they're in uh to take up any particular concerns uh about their employment. They can go to their local union. Unions are very good. In fact, Senator Roberts at defending uh workers rights and if there are any particular workers who are experiencing difficulty, I'd encourage them to go to their unions.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you, Chair.
>> Thank you, Senator Roberts. We'll go to Senator