Federal Opposition MPs are furious that Mr Rudd has frozen their salaries for the next 16 months in an effort to contain inflation. The former minister Tony Abbott says politicians are struggling to make ends meet on a backbencher’s base salary of $127,060.

“We have mortgages to pay, in many cases we have school fees, we have medical expenses, we have all the normal expenses that families have, and the only source of meeting those expenses is our parliamentary salaries,” Mr Abbott said. (Source)

I am afraid I have no sympathy for Mr Abbot. If Mr Abbot was a base backbencher he would earn two and a half times the average salary. If he can’t cope, how do those who less than the average cope with their families and children?

Most Australians only have their wage or salary. Very few have investments that do anything more than make sure they will be comfortable in their retirement. Mr Abbot, you are out so out of touch.