‘s next governor-general is set for a pay-rise when she takes on the role, with a federal parliament vote to determine the top job’s salary.
Sam Mostyn will be sworn in next Monday as ‘s 28th governor-general, replacing the outgoing David Hurley.
How much she will be paid during her five-year term will be determined by MPs and senators, with laws introduced on Monday that will set out her pay cheque.
Ms Mostyn will be paid $709,017 per year as governor-general, if the new laws pass as expected, compared to Mr Hurley’s $495,000 salary.
However, Mr Hurley also received military pensions on top of his salary as governor-general.
Assistant Public Service Minister Patrick Gorman said the higher salary for Ms Mostyn reflected her not receiving other Commonwealth entitlements, compared to her predecessors in the role.
‘The constitution prevents the governor-general’s salary from being altered during their term of office,’ he told parliament.
‘As such, it is necessary to set the next governor-general salary at a level appropriate for the duration of this term.’
The governor-general’s salary is determined by the estimated average salary of the chief justice of the High Court.
Ms Mostyn was appointed by Mr Albanese in April.
Ms Mostyn, 58, is a businesswoman who was appointed to a vast number of corporate boards through her championing of feminist and indigenous causes as well as climate change initiatives.
She was criticised as a ‘woke’ appointment by conservative critics who decried her long history in identity politics, and sensitivity over that prompted the deletion of many of her past social media posts.
Ms Mostyn, who was the AFL’s first-ever female commissioner, has a long track record of supporting progressive causes.
She backed the Voice referendum, describing herself as ‘completely untethered’ when it was resoundingly defeated, and had also described Day as ‘invasion day’ in a now-deleted social media post unearthed by Daily Mail .
Daily Mail previously revealed how Ms Mostyn advocated the Voice to her 22,000 followers on X, before suddenly disabling her account.
The banner picture of her X account was, for a lengthy period of time, a poster which declared, ‘We support the Uluru Statement’.
The 58-year-old, who will officially start the role in July 2024, also previously made statements in favour of becoming a republic.
Her commitment to that cause has not stopped her taking the job as the Crown’s highest representative in .
‘Sam Mostyn is an exceptional leader who represents the best of modern ,’ Anthony Albanese said after her appointment.
‘(She) has had an extensive career in the n business community, including working at senior levels in telecommunications and insurance companies in and globally.’
A government spokesman added: ‘The Governor Generals salary has not been adjusted since 2019.
‘It has been a long standing convention since 1974 that the Governor General’s salary has been based on the Chief Justice of the High Court’s salary, which is set by the independent Renumeration Tribunal.
‘In cases where the Governor-General has not 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.’