Editing Governor-General of Australia (section)

===Salary===
The salary of the governor-general was initially set by the Constitution, which fixed an annual amount of [[Australian pound|A£]]10,000 until the parliament decided otherwise. The Constitution also provides that the salary of the governor-general cannot be changed during their term of office.<ref>''Australian Constitution'' (Cth) [https://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/xx3.html s 3]</ref> Their pay is now set by ''Governor-General Act 1974'', which has been amended on each new commission to set the governor-general's salary to an amount slightly higher than the average salary of the [[Chief Justice of Australia|chief justice of the High Court]] over the next five years. Since 1995, this has been reduced to take into account any existing pension the incoming governor-general currently receives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Cathy |date=2014-02-27 |title=Governor-General's salary |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2014/February/Governor-Generals-salary |access-date= |website=Parliament of Australia |series=FlagPost |language=en-AU}}</ref> This provision led to the salary increase of current governor-general [[Samantha Mostyn]] (of $495,000 to $709,017) being significantly greater than other new governors-general, as unlike previous governor-general [[David Hurley]], she does not receive a military pension.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albanese |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Albanese |date=2024-07-01 |title=Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2024: Explanatory Memoranda |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fems%2Fr7184_ems_9ad3b3b2-0ea3-4968-a2e0-5bf75ee1ed41%22 |website=[[Parliament of Australia]] |quote=Section 3 of the Constitution provides that the salary of the Governor-General shall not be altered during their continuance in office. The Bill amends the Governor-General Act to change the sum payable for the salary of the Governor-General from $495,000 to $709,017. In line with past practice, the proposed salary is calculated by reference to the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia over the notional five-year term of the appointment of the Governor-General. Where, in the past, a Governor-General has been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements - such as a judicial pension - the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly. Ms Mostyn is not a recipient of any such entitlements.}}</ref>

The governor-general also receives a generous pension.<ref name="GGASalary">{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|ga1974182|Governor-General Act 1974|3}}</ref>{{refn|The pension is 60% of the salary of the [[Chief Justice of Australia|chief justice]] at the end of the governor-general's term.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|ga1974182|Governor-General Act 1974|4}}</ref>}} Until 2001, governors-general did not pay [[Income tax in Australia|income tax]] on their salary; this was changed after Elizabeth II agreed to pay tax.<ref name="QBS">{{Cite web |title=Herald Sun, 18 June 2008, governor-general Quentin Bryce to get pay rise |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23881081-662,00.html}}</ref>