An oversight has seen Queensland's Premier Campbell Newman pocket the same salary as US President Barack Obama.

The Liberal National Party (LNP) of Queensland are pushing to give its MPs a $57,000 pay rise.


The Queensland Council of Union's president, John Battam, says it's an absolute disgrace.

"They've (the LNP) done nothing but preach austerity to Queenslanders since they were elected, slashing jobs and services, and limiting increases in pay for their own employees to two per cent," Mr Battam said.

"They deserve to be punished at the polls at the next election."

However Acting Premier Jeff Seeney argues that MPs should decide their own salary levels.

"I am a firm believer in an independent decision-maker and it's up to that independent decision-maker what the salary rates should be," Mr Seeney said.

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"What's gone wrong is that the decisions of the independent decision-maker have been varied by a premier who exceeded the power of the office in doing so."