The state's politicians have been awarded a four per cent pay rise despite both the government and the opposition saying they did not deserve one.
The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal today approved a 4.2 per cent salary increase to members of parliament, who will now receive a base pay of $128,980, making the politicans the highest paid MPs in the country.
In a statement the Tribunal said it had taken into account the annual rise of WA consumer price index of 4.5 per cent and the 5.9 per cent increase in the state's wage price index for the March quarter.
Speaking on ABC Radio earlier today, Mr Carpenter said he did not believe state politicians deserve a pay rise and it would be embarrassing if MP's were to buck the Prime Minister's call for wage restraint.
"In the light of the Federal members of parliament not getting a pay rise this year, I don't believe West Australian MP's should get one either, I made that point," Mr Carpenter said.
Mr Carpenter had put a submission to the tribunal that MPs did not need a pay rise because federal MPs did not receive one.
"When the federal MPs said they weren't going to take a pay rise this year, I realised what that meant for Western Australia," Mr Carpenter said before today's announcement.
"That meant if there was a pay rise of more than a few per cent, West Australian MPs would be payed more than the federal MPs."
The premier said he would consider legislation to peg WA MPs salaries to their federal counterparts, taking the decision away from the salaries tribunal.
Mr Carpenter would not say whether he would give his pay increase to charity.
Opposition Leader Colin Barnett said other professions deserved a pay rise before politicians.
"I certainly don't think parliamentarians deserve a big pay rise at all. Teachers do, they deserve a big pay rise."
