For instance, Premier Will Hodgman, like his Queensland counterpart Annastacia Palaszczuk, earns more than the Chinese, Russian and Indian presidents combined, and not much less than President Barack Obama.

Indeed top public servants in Tasmania earn packages in excess of $500,000, while President Obama earns just $443,000 and British Prime Minister David Cameron earns $256,000.

Our Governor Kate Warner earns about $427,000 or more than Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Local government general managers in some cases earn up to $300,000 a year, or far more than their council bosses and even state government ministers.

There is certainly a culture of largesse, or at least, a small state public sector with an inflated view of itself.

Indeed, Tasmania has one departmental public servant for every 20 Tasmanians, while Victoria has one for every 210 Victorians.

Victoria has nine government departments for a population of almost six million and Tasmania has eight for 513,000. Victoria has one council for every 73,000 Victorians. Tasmania has one council for every 18,000 Tasmanians.

There is an explanation of sorts. Tasmania has to pay more to attract the best. Surgeons and other health specialists charge the public purse a small fortune for their services, otherwise they happily go elsewhere.

In specialist areas this is understandable, but your average bureaucrat should not be so expensive. There is something bizarre about ministers earning far less than their advisers, who merely have to offer a broad spectrum of advice while the minister has to make and defend the tough decisions.

How is it possible, that a senior public servant in the nation's smallest state, earns as much as the nation's prime minister, and much more than the leaders of the world's super powers?