Anthony Albanese speech comes back to haunt him

Anthony Albanese has been branded a 'hypocrite' after footage of him criticising a pay rise given to the Governor-General back in 2003 resurfaced.

It comes after news broke this week that the current governor-general, Sam Mostyn, will be given a $200,000 pay rise, taking her annual pay to $709,017.

The base salary is a massive increase on the $495,000 paid to the outgoing head of state David Hurley, and has angered many, especially amid the cost of living crisis.

In footage that has now circulated from parliament in June, 2003, Mr Albanese was seen questioning a $55,000 pay rise given to the then governor-general, Michael Jeffery, as part of the Governor-General Amendment Bill 2003.

'The governor-general will receive a $55,000 pay rise or more than $1,000 a week,' Mr Albanese said in parliament at the time.

'There's a big contrast with average Australians and average Australians will be concerned about a bill increasing the salary of $55,000 in one hit.

'Because in contrast, 1.7 million low-paid workers were awarded a pay rise of $15 to $17 a week in the latest industrial relations safety net wage case.'

The footage has circulated on social media, with many pointing out the 'irony' in Mr Albanese's attitude towards the pay rise then and now.

'This hasn't aged well has it? Oh, the hypocrisy!' one wrote.

'If it wasn't so outrageous, it would be funny,' said another.

'Hypocrisy all right,' one said.

Laws were introduced to federal parliament on Monday that will lock in the salary of Ms Mostyn.

The incoming governor-general's wage will be higher because Ms Mostyn does not already collect Commonwealth payments, such as the military pensions received by Mr Hurley following his service in the defence force.

The governor-general's salary is determined by the estimated average salary of the chief justice of the High Court, and is not increased for factors like inflation during the term.

'It is usual practice for the governor-general's remuneration to be set slightly above the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court,' a spokesman for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said.

'The salary of the governor-general is set before they take up office and, under the constitution, cannot be altered during their term of office.'

It comes as the PM and other federal politicians will each receive a 3.5 per cent pay increase from July 1, as announced by The Remuneration Tribunal, an independent body that sets the pay of federal politicians and bureaucrats.

The pay bump will see Mr Albanese take home $607,471 a year, a boost from $586,929.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton received a $25,000 pay rise and now sits on a salary of $432,239.

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Glyn Davis – the highest-paid public servant - will get an extra $34,202, putting him on $1,011,402 a year.