From the figures quoted throughout this thread, I'd say your MP's are paid much better than ours. They don't really make a lot of money unless they're the PM...and even then I think he gets shit pay for the amount of hours he has to work and the crap he has to deal with (and I say this from a bipartisan position. I think most politicians deserve to be paid more)

Maybe so, but compared to a lot of places the actual wages aren't so high. £65k per annum is not a high wage for a national politician. Not when you consider the wages paid to management level civil servants in local government.

They're paid a decent amount, if the expenses and allowances are taken into account (the legitimate ones).

Well it's the same here. Federal pollies don't get much over $100k unless they're a front bench minister.

Definitely better money to be made in the private sector.

Here is some info salaries

What amazes me is the two (so far ) MP's that have been found out
for stealing money which was supposed to be paying for their mortgage, are not down the local copshop in hand cuffs,where you or me would be if we were caught doing the same thing.

Most of us don't have jobs that make it virtually impossible to eat inexpensively.

Very interesting insight Dana. Thanks for trying to bring it down to our level, which in the US seems quite more simplistic. Maybe our founders thought they should try to make things more simple when they framed our government.