Politicians Donating Pay Rise

THE Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party are calling on all politicians to donate their annual 2.5 percent pay rise to support farmers in drought.

Philip Donato, the Member for Orange has donated his pay rise to Aussie Farmers and Upper Hunter candidate John Preston has pledged that if he is elected he will donate his entire first years wage to a charity and has called on current member for Upper Hunter, Michael Johnsen to donate his pay rise to drought relief in the Upper Hunter.

John Preston, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, said the State government should be paying for the town revitalisation projects.

“If I was in  Mr Johnsen’s shoes I couldn’t get my cheque book open quick enough and with his government in power it should be literally raining money in New South Wales to deal with what is one of the worst natural disasters we’ve seen in a century,” said Mr Preston.

“And by the way it’s tax deductible so you get half of it back at the top marginal rate, so you still get half your pay rise,” he said.

Mr Preston, who is a professional investor, is critical of the double standard the government took to support the banking industry, while the agricultural industry has been hung out to dry.

“It’s literally beyond belief, ten years ago when there was a global financial crisis state and federal governments were racing with tax payers money to underwrite the banking system on the basis they were too big to fail,” said Mr Preston.

“Here we are ten years later we’ve got a banking industry royal commission which has shown up their misdeeds and yet the people who keep us nine meals away from anarchy are being left to fend for themselves,” he said.

“The hypocracy is unbelievable, I mean you are kidding aren’t you!

“I was very fortunate with my investments in CBD commercial real estate and I can well afford to donate my first years salary, no problem,” he said.

“I’ll give my entire first years pay away, I’ll work for nothing!” John Preston said.

scone.com.au asked Michael Johnsen’s office if he would donate his pay rise, however no response was received at the time of publishing.

WATCH video of Philip Donato calling on his colleagues to donate their pay rise: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.