The Territory’s politicians have been given an early Christmas present in the form of an $8,200 annual pay rise as of January 1 – bringing their base salaries to $175,000, plus benefits and expense accounts – while ministers will see their pay packet increased by nearly $14,000 a year.

The government quietly tabled the Remuneration Tribunal’s latest determination in Parliament late on Thursday night, which shows all politicians will now be paid the base $175,000 annual salary, up from the previous $166,763.

That does not include numerous expense accounts and other benefits, including electorate allowances, travel allowances, travel expenses, vehicle allowances, fuel cards, child care entitlements and a host of other benefits, including access to airline lounges.

The pay rises increase further for ministers and the Speaker, who will see a $13,500 raise, while Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro will see her raise doubled to more than $16,400 a year for a total salary of $350,000, plus other numerous perks, entitlements and benefits.

The pay increase was recommended by the Remuneration Tribunal which met with politicians back in May. It said there had been no pay increase to the base wage salary for MLAs for the four years between 2019 and 2022. That was due to a pay freeze ordered by the previous Gunner government in an attempt to manage the Territory’s fiscal challenges and deep debt that is still expected to top $11 billion by the end of the current financial year.

“Currently the Territory is some $8,500 below the average of the eight State and Territory jurisdictions [for politician wages],” the tribunal stated in its latest determination, adding the increase “will ensure a fair and equitable salary that will not discourage future Members”.

Travel allowances for MLAs have also been increased, while meal allowances have remained at the previous rate of just over $200 a day.

There was no increase to electorate allowances, which range from between $64,000 a year for urban electorates and up to $121,000 a year for bush seats.

Electorate officers will see a more modest $4,000 a year pay rise, bringing their salaries to between $93,000 and $102,000.

Ms Finocchiaro appointed most of her backbench members to “assistant ministers” earlier this year amid rumours of discontent, however they will only see the base salary increase as those positions are not real and not recognised by the committee that sets politicians’ wages.

The CLP Government did not mention the pay rises in Parliament yesterday when tabling the latest determination.

Ms Finocchiaro however did announce that long-serving Remuneration Tribunal chair Michael Martin has resigned, as has fellow member Syd Stirling.

Gary Higgins has been named the new chair of the Remuneration Tribunal with disgraced former speaker Kezia Purick also appointed to the committee. Former Labor deputy leader Lynne Walker has also been added to the committee that determines politicians’ pay packets.