PM defends Scott Cam's whopping pay packet

The prime minister is unrepentant about paying TV tradie Scott Cam $345,000 for a 15-month government contract.

The celebrity builder was appointed to the role of national careers ambassador in October to encourage more young people to take up trades.

The Gold Logie winner will be paid $260,000 this financial year and $85,000 the next.

Scott Morrison insists the pay packet passes the pub test.

"Scotty Cam is a successful tradie and he can make that message very clear," Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday.

"We made no secret about the fact that he wasn't doing it as a volunteer and he has done this work for previous Labor governments as well.

"This is about getting young people into trades. He is a high profile person involved in the media industry and you have to meet the market."