WODONGA Upper House MP Tim Quilty will donate half of a $4674 pay rise to charity.
The Liberal Democrat and other Victorian politicians are set to see their salary increase from Thursday after an independent tribunal approved an annual increase of 2.5 per cent.
The basic yearly income for an MP is $186,973.
Mr Quilty said he would give away half the add-on to charities aiding those who had suffered during COVID lockdowns.
"I'm not opposed to MPs getting pay rises but at the moment it's a bit tough when everybody is doing it hard, particularly the private sector," Mr Quilty said.
"I think they could have taken into account the external conditions."
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Member for Benambra Bill Tilley said that whatever pay rise he received it would be returned to the electorate through him supporting events and activities through donations and gate entry costs.
Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said he had not put any thought into what he would do with the extra cash and would speak to his fellow Nationals MPs.
"There's always this perception that politicians are always on the gravy train and that's not the case, we work long hours like other people," Mr McCurdy said.
Wangaratta Upper House politician Tania Maxwell did not believe a wage increase was appropriate.
"I'm quite appalled given we're in a pandemic and businesses are going broke," Ms Maxwell said.
She did not specify what she would do with the extra cash but said she donated "behind the scenes".
Victorian MPs' wages were frozen last year amid the COVID outbreak.
The tribunal cited improving economic conditions for approving the increase.
