CANBERRA: Sabah-born Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is serving as Acting Prime Minister while Anthony Albanese is overseas, temporarily placing her in Australia’s top political role.
Her stint has also drawn attention to a change in ministerial remuneration rules which could entitle her to receive the Prime Minister’s higher salary for the period she performs the duties, according to News24 Australia.
The revised arrangements allow ministers temporarily performing the duties of a more senior office to potentially receive the higher salary attached to that position, with the potential increase attracting criticism in Australia and being described as “pretty indulgent”.
However, the report concerns Wong’s entitlement under the changed rules and does not suggest that she personally sought the additional payment.
The development carries particular interest for Sabah as Wong was born in Kota Kinabalu, then known as Jesselton, before moving to Australia as a child and eventually rising through Australian politics.
Wong, who represents South Australia in the Senate, became Australia’s Foreign Minister in 2022 under Albanese’s Labor government and has since been one of the country’s most prominent figures in foreign affairs.
Her temporary elevation to Acting Prime Minister marks another milestone in the political career of the Malaysian-born politician, whose roots trace back to Sabah.
