A state government move to reward every Coalition MP with promotions that give them effective pay rises of at least $10,000 a year has been criticised by the member for Orange Phil Donato.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has appointed all the Liberal and Nationals members of parliament to a range of roles including parliamentary secretaries and committee chairs.
First term MPs including the member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders have been given committee chair roles which carry pay and allowances of about $20,000 on top of the base salary of about $165,000.
"It's a bit of a rort I think," Mr Donato said.
"For what they do extra is hardly worth the pay they are getting extra," he said.
I don't think that it's right first time parliamentarians should be chairing committees.
- Phil Donato, member for Orange
Mr Donato said many of the new government members had been on larger incomes in private industry than they would get in government.
"All it does is supplement their incomes," he said.
Mr Donato said inexperienced members had been given committee chair roles.
"I don't think that it's right first time parliamentarians should be chairing committees."
Mr Donato said he believed the committee chair roles had been kept for government MPs "so they can control them."
He said he would receive an extra $4865 on top of his base salary to be a member of the Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development as of June 18.
"I've never been on a committee before so I am not sure how much additional work is required, how many meetings there will be," he said.
Mr Donato said he wanted to be on a committee to gain extra experience and knowledge.
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