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Mark Bouris Calls On Aussie Politicians To Take A Pay Cut For People In Lockdown

Mark Bouris Calls On Aussie Politicians To Take A Pay Cut For People In Lockdown

The entrepreneur says it would be a massive sign of solidarity with businesses who are doing it tough.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Australian business icon Mark Bouris has called on politicians in lockdown-affected areas to take a pay cut.

The former Celebrity Apprentice host believes our it would send a strong signal of solidarity to those doing it tough at the moment.

He said 'small businesses in particular are on their absolute f***ing knees' due to the stay-at-home measures and the recently announced assistance from the federal government might not be enough to keep them afloat.

The entrepreneur believes those making the big decisions should consider a salary cut or wage freeze to send a message to these businesses that they're not alone.

In a video on his Instagram, Mr Bouris said: "Throughout all of this, all of last year and now, even more importantly right now, I haven't heard one politician, not one of them, acknowledge they're getting full whack in their pay.

"Yet the small business community are being expected to accept a sharp reduction in their own income.

"The very first politician to get up, and put their hand up and say 'you know what I'll take a reduction in my pay by 20 per cent... for the period of the lockdown and the next seven weeks after that'.

"That particular individual will be a true leader in my eyes and will truly be doing this together with the small business community."

Businesses have been given a helping hand from the government, who has agreed to offer payroll tax waivers of 25 per cent for those with Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million who have experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover.

Those businesses with wages under $10 million can also claim grants of between $7,500 and $15,000 to cover the first three-weeks of restrictions.

PA

This isn't the first time someone has called for politicians' wages to be frozen while Greater Sydney experiences lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak.

Sky News Australia presenter Alan Jones is leading the campaign to have our representatives prevented from being paid until this outbreak is contained.

Jones told viewers: "While we let them keep going they will continue on their power surge and we will pay.

"Those of us who give a voice to the voiceless are not going to fall in line just because you are Mr Prime Minister or Ms Premier."

His solution to helping people mentally deal with another lockdown is to 'suspend all political salaries until the lockdown ends'.

He says people struggling with the stay-at-home measures will at least feel like the politicians who make the rules will be in the same boat as them.

Featured Image Credit: Channel 10

Topics: Australia