Icare CEO payrise an insult to public sector workers

Unions NSW

Treasurer Dominic Perrotett’s decision to award the new CEO of icare a massive $120,000 pay rise is greedy and out of touch, coming as wages flatline and families confront economic uncertainty, Unions NSW said today.

The new CEO Richard Harding will become NSW’s top paid public servant at a time when the state’s public sector workers are the subject of a pay freeze.

Mr Harding will receive a staggering $821,694.20 each year as well as an annual bonus of up to $410,847. His predecessor earns $700,000.

“Mr Harding’s salary of $821,694.20 is offensive at the best of times, but when you are asking paramedics, nurses, teachers and other public sector workers to take a pay cut, it’s grotesque and on another planet,” said Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW

“It’s just another kick in the guts to our hardworking public sector workers who found out just before Christmas that they weren’t considered worthy of a pay rise despite keeping us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It beggars belief that they missed out on a pay rise, but the incoming CEO of this highly dysfunctional insurer will take home a staggering $120,00 extra each year.”

Last year it was revealed that more than 200 top icare executives were paid bonuses, and its eight leading executives took home $4 million in salaries and bonuses in a single year.

Mr Morey added: “It seems the Berijiklian Government has learnt nothing from the scandals that plagued icare and is more than happy to keep feeding this culture of greed and excess.

“It’s clear there’s one rule for NSW’s fat cats, and another for everyone else, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. NSW public sector workers deserve far better.”

/Public Release.