Australian teen urges new PM to draw meagre salary

A petition started by a Brisbane teenager urging the new Australian premier to consider reducing his salary drastically or donating it to charity has gathered more than 1,800 signatures, the media reported on Saturday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's wealth is well known, which prompted 15-year-old Corbin Duncan to start an online petition calling on the premier to reduce his salary to one Australian dollar (US$0.70) or donate it to charity, ABC reported.

Corbin said the money could be used to build vital infrastructure and that he thought Turnbull would embrace the idea.

"I certainly think that he'd be willing to take it on board, he has presented himself as a very forward thinking man, and I think that he would be willing to accept this proposal," he said.

"We need to remember that this is certainly his money and he can choose to do what he wishes with this money, but we are presenting an idea that we think he would accept."

Corbin said he thought of the idea while watching recent political events unfold.

"I'm greatly interested in politics and follow it very closely. Over the last week Turnbull's story and his wealth has been well publicised and I thought he hasn't taken on the role for the compensation," he said.

"He doesn't need the compensation, so would Turnbull consider putting this compensation, putting taxpayers money, into more pressing issues?"

Since it was set up earlier this week, the petition has been signed by more than 1,800 people.