Political staffers in Malcolm Turnbull’s and Bill Shorten’s offices have seen their wages jump 32% over the past two years, according to The Australian.

While private and public sector wages grew just 3.8% and 4.8% respectively in the same period, Adam Creighton’s exposé suggests some taxpayer-funded pay packets in Canberra are ballooning at a much faster rate.

“Grades of pay have been increasing very rapidly,” Creighton reveals.

“$233,000 is the average pay in the Prime Minister’s office (compared with $177,000 two years earlier) and in the Opposition’s office, it’s 193,000. That’s a 34% jump.”

At a time of stagnating wage growth and climbing cost of living, many say this kind of pay disparity shows how out of touch the elite political class has become.

“I just think it’s completely out of line with community expectations,” says Creighton.

The aggregate cost of ministerial staff was made public prior to 2013. These figures are now concealed, after the document outlining salary costs stopped being published. Creighton’s revelation has many calling for this to change, with some demanding greater transparency.

“Surely, in the name of good taste and justification, these things should be made available to the public to run their eye over again,” says Luke Grant.

Click PLAY below for the full interview