Victoria’s opposition has pledged to cap senior public sector salaries if elected, with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson unveiling a plan she says will “restore financial discipline” and redirect funding toward frontline services.
Under the proposal, a future Liberal and Nationals government would limit base salaries for new and renegotiated executive contracts to the level of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, currently set at $598,248. The cap would apply to incoming hires and contract renewals, with annual increases tied to broader wage growth.
Wilson said the policy was aimed at addressing what she described as excessive executive pay under the Jacinta Allan government, pointing to cases where senior officials are earning well above standard salary bands.
She cited figures showing the number of Victorian Public Service executives has significantly increased in recent years, alongside high-profile salaries exceeding $800,000 in major infrastructure portfolios.
The opposition also referenced the salary of senior bureaucrat Jeroen Weimar, who currently serves as Secretary of the Department of Transport, as part of its broader argument that executive remuneration has become disconnected from community expectations.
Wilson said the savings generated from the cap, estimated at more than $20 million over the next decade, would be redirected toward essential services, including policing and healthcare. She linked the policy to wider concerns about staffing pressures, citing figures indicating fewer police officers on the beat and ongoing challenges for graduate nurses seeking employment.
“Victorians expect their government to prioritise the basics,” Wilson said, arguing that rising executive pay had occurred alongside growing concerns about crime, road conditions and ambulance response times.
The announcement comes amid a broader debate over state finances, with Victoria’s net debt projected to reach $192.6 billion by 2028–29. The opposition has increasingly focused on fiscal management as a key election issue, positioning the pay cap as part of a wider effort to rein in spending.
The Allan government has previously defended its use of senior executives, arguing they are necessary to deliver large-scale projects and manage complex portfolios, particularly in areas such as infrastructure and transport.
With the next state election approaching, public sector spending and executive pay are emerging as key battlegrounds, as both sides seek to frame the debate around economic management and service delivery.
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