The Public Service Association says lifting public sector board member paychecks is total hypocrisy. 

A quietly-released Cabinet paper reveals annual governance board chair fees have jumped from up to $90,000, to more than $160,000.

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says this decision comes from the same leaders who cancelled pay equity claims and offered meagre minimum-wage increases.

"It's astonishing from a Government that was elected on addressing the cost of living crisis - and it seems for low-income workers and middle-income workers, this Government is nowhere to be seen."

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