Incoming governor-general set to receive annual salary of $709,000

Incoming governor-general Sam Mostyn is set to receive an annual salary of $709,000, 43 per cent higher than that of her predecessor David Hurley, in the first increase in five years.

Proposed legislation to amend Mostyn’s salary says it was calculated to “moderately exceed” the five-year average salary of the chief justice of the High Court, whose pay is set by the independent Remuneration Tribunal. Chief Justice Stephen Gageler currently earns $649,880 a year but is expected to reach $769,989 after five years.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman tabled the Governor-General Amendment (Salary) bill in the House of Representatives on Monday.

It will need to be passed to take effect before Mostyn is sworn in on July 1, replacing Hurley, who was on an annual salary of $495,000.

Historically, many governors-general have come to office from areas such as the military or judiciary, from which they drew comfortable pensions, while Mostyn is from the private sector.

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A spokesperson for Gorman said the governor-general’s salary had not been adjusted since 2019.

“Where, in the past, a governor-general has been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements, such as a military pension, the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly. Ms Mostyn is not a recipient of any such entitlements,” they said.

“In line with previous practices, the proposed salary of the governor-general is calculated by reference to the estimated average salary of the chief justice of the High Court of Australia.”