A Colleague of mine has a good idea. Tie everyone’s wages to politicians. That would keep wages up.

CCH draws our attention to the PM’s pay rise:

Prime Minister John Howard has used his budget tax cuts to argue against a $26 a week rise for Australia’s poorest workers - then defended his own $11,000 a year pay rise.

Mr Howard, who says his government is the best friend the Australian worker has ever had, says pay rises for politicians are justified because both sides of politics need to attract talented people.