We know the pay is no longer commensurate to the increasing amount of work we’re being asked to do. The top average wage for a secondary school teacher is around $79,500, while backbench MPs with no additional responsibilities earn $160,024. Let's go back in time to 1979, when experienced secondary school teachers earned roughly the same amount of pay as backbench MPs; around $18,000 a year. DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF As teachers, we know that a significant pay jolt now will save so much time, money, and disruption in the years to come. Three per cent of a current backbench MP’s base pay is about $4800.72.

Source: Stuff February 26, 2019 23:05 UTC