Foreign Minister Penny Wong is receiving a temporary pay increase while acting as Prime Minister during Anthony Albanese's absence abroad. Albanese is currently attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles also overseas on defense business in the United States and United Kingdom.
Under a recent revision to salary rules, any minister serving as acting prime minister is now entitled to the same annual salary rate as the prime minister. This change, stemming from the Remuneration Tribunal's latest annual report, means that ministers lower in the line of succession can access the higher pay when temporarily leading the government. Previously, only the deputy prime minister was eligible for the prime ministerial rate.
Albanese earns an annual salary of $622,102, which includes a parliamentary base salary of $239,270 and a ministerial loading of $382,832 as prime minister. Wong, who typically earns $448,631 annually, including a ministerial loading of $209,361, will receive the prime minister's higher salary loading for the four days she is acting in the role. This equates to approximately $1,900 before tax for the period.
The Remuneration Tribunal's report stated that any minister serving as Acting Prime Minister should be remunerated at the same annual salary rate as the Prime Minister. The difference between the prime ministerial and ministerial loadings is approximately $173,471 per year. The tribunal noted that its 2025 report had only provided for the Deputy Prime Minister to receive the higher rate while acting as Prime Minister.
The acting arrangements for Wong were authorized by Albanese. The formal order of succession also lists Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and Trade Minister Don Farrell as potential acting prime ministers if more senior ministers are unavailable.