WA politicians get 4.3% pay rise

The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal has awarded WA politicians a 4.3 per cent pay rise to cover a two-year period from 2008.

The base salary of a WA MP will rise to $134,526.

Premier Colin Barnett's salary will rise to about $312,000 while Opposition Leader Eric Ripper will now receive roughly $242,000.

"While it does sound high, it is less than the rate of inflation over the past two years, which was 4.9 per cent," Mr Barnett told reporters.

"This is not 4.3 per cent in any one year; it covers the two-year period from 2008.

"It is in line with the state government wages policy.

"I would have thought it would be less than 4 per cent," the Premier said.

"You can always refuse to take it but I don't think anyone is seriously going to do that."

Mr Barnett said the based level for WA politicians was marginally higher than other states.

"Other states have pegged state salaries to the federal level, in WA we have made an independent determination," he said.