Former Labor MP defends politicians’ pension system

Former Labor MP Luke Donnellan has defended a pay scheme which saw politicians receive a minimum lifetime salary of $84,000 after they exit the Victorian parliament.

The system no longer exists, but certain MPs are still able to access it due to when they were first sworn in.

“It’s a generous system but in many ways you’re asked to work six, seven days a week,” he said on 3AW Mornings.

“You are probably working longer hours than most people.

“And I know there’ll be a discussion of how many hours people work and so forth, but the hours are long … and you’ve got to love the work to keep doing it.”

Mr Donnellan added that many outgoing MPs struggled to find work once being voted out.

“You’ll find that a lot of members of parliament will find to get work thereafter, because they’ve been tainted as politicians,” he said.

“Many of these people have got good skills but I don’t think they’re actually recognised.

“So for many, and I know many very sharp politicians who spent a year-and-a-half, two years trying to find a good job thereafter.”

Press PLAY below to hear Luke Donnellan explain the system

Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images