Scott Morrison has dismissed the idea of a pay cut for federal government ministers and public service bosses during the coronavirus crisis.

The Australian Prime Minister who earns an annual salary of $549,250, is not planning to follow in the footsteps of New Zealand after Kiwi leader Jacinda Ardern announced all ministers and public service chiefs would take a 20 percent pay cut for a period of six months.

'It's not something that's being considered,' he told 6PR radio on Wednesday.

In contrast to New Zealand, the Australian Government has introduced a pay freeze for politicians and high-ranking public servants, which restricts them from receiving any salary increases during the pandemic.

Scott Morrison has dismissed the idea of a pay cut for federal government ministers and public service bosses during the coronavirus crisis

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured), ministers in her government and public service chief executives will take a 20 per cent pay cut for the next six months

Mr Morrison said he doesn't support any pay cuts for public servants because they are working tireless to deliver important coronavirus response measures including wage subsidies and stimulus packages.

'They do a great job and they're as much on the frontline saving people's livelihoods frankly as nurses working in hospitals,' he said.

'Everyone is working hard here. Everyone who is in a job is in an essential job. I just want to support them in those jobs so I'm not keen to get into a competition.'

Earlier on Wednesday, Treasurer of Australia Josh Frydenberg also poured cold water on the idea of a pay cut.

On the other side of the Tasman Sea, Ardern said the move to slash salaries was made to show solidarity with New Zealanders who had lost jobs and income as a result of the disease outbreak.

One way to save money to pay back debts would be to reduce the wage bill in the public sector, including politicians.

Prime Minster Scott Morrison was asked if he was considering reforming franking credits or cutting ministers' salaries.

Mr Morrison replied: 'No, we're not reconsidering franking credits and these sort of things.'

Franking credits are a tax rebate to shareholders who get dividends, including retirees. Labor pledged to scrap them in the 2019 election campaign, and that policy was identified as one which cost the party an election it was expected to win.

Dozens of high-earning figures in the private sector have vowed to take pay cuts.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, whose base salary is $2.1million, has said he will not take a penny of his salary as long as coronavirus lasts.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, whose base salary is $2.1 million, has said he will not take a penny of his salary as long as coronavirus lasts

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, who earns $1.2million, will take a 25 per cent pay cut - and has said he will sacrifice more if the players have their salaries cut further.

Politicians, judges and officials holding senior public office have had their pay frozen until the crisis is over - but some commentators say the freeze is not enough.

MPs wages in Australia As at 1 July 2019, the base salary of federal MPs is $211,250 per annum. This is before travel allowance and electorate entitlements. Prime Minister Scott Morrison gets $549,250. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is on $433,063. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is paid $396,094. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who is also Leader of the Government in the Senate, gets $396,094. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is on $390,813 Advertisement

John Roskam, Executive Director at the Institute of Public Affairs, said: 'Not all this extra spending has to be new money and debt. There should be a 20 per cent reduction in public service pay until the crisis is over.

'There needs to be a sense of shared sacrifice from the public service. We have seen a disconnect of bureaucrat elites from the productive economy.'

In late March One Nation leader Pauline Hanson demanded politicians take a pay cut.

'I have no problems with politicians wages being cut back in areas, and I'm happy to tell the Prime Minister where to start,' she said.

The base salary for a federal MP is $211,250.

Ms Hanson also said politicians' perks should be removed, such as flying business class instead of economy and that committee payments should cease.

Last month Malta's Prime Minister said he would forgo a month's salary to send a message to the nation that he was also making sacrifices during the pandemic.