Councillors get big pay rises

ALL Golden Plains Shire councillors have taken the full amount of an allowance increase determined by Victorian Independent Renumeration Tribunal.

Councillor allowances are essentially pay the elected representatives receive, and the change to the way renumeration is determined means the issue no longer requires a vote in the council chamber.

Instead, councillors now advise Shire officers if they are accepting the increase in full, part, or declining it.

Along with the statewide minor pay rise determined by the tribunal, an increase in the population of Golden Plains Shire means that some councillors are getting significantly more allowance.

Backdated to December last year, the mayor will now take home just shy of $96,500 a year including super, a more than 38 per cent increase.

Deputy-mayors are the biggest winner, up to more than $48,000 a year – double the previous allowance, while councillors now get $30,000 or 24.5 per cent more.

Current mayor Cr Gavin Gamble said he was “owning the fact” he’d accepted the full amount available.

“It’s important we are paid sufficiently so it’s viable for normal adults to become councillors and not go backwards financially, and I think that’s important for diversity of candidates in age, profession, and gender,” he said.

“Personally, I’ve had to put my business into hibernation and am doing the mayoral role full-time, because I am trying to give the Shire best value for money, I’m going to everything I possibly can, and I’m not taking holidays.

“I’m doing a weekly coffee with the mayor, travelling around as much as possible, and it’s a double election year, so there’s a lot of background advocacy work seeking commitments from candidates and government bodies.”

Cr Gamble said the increase in allowances is a positive acknowledgement of the value of local government in representing communities, and contributing to a healthy democracy.

He also said the role of a councillor is an evolving one, in respect to the Local Government Act 2020.

“This puts a lot more responsibilities on councils. Councillors are more accessible, and have greater demands on them with social media.

“There’s a lot more emphasis on strategic decision-making on a council these days, like being a director on a board,” he said.

While previously on the same money, Cr Gamble said the differentiation between the general councillors’ and deputy-mayor’s allowances are fair, considering the deputy has a role to play in supporting the mayor, sometimes representing them at events, or chairing meetings in the event of absence.

Cr Kirby said she has taken the increase because over her 13 years as a councillor, she has never claimed a fuel allowance.

“I still don’t claim fuel, so I’m pretty much on an even keel in that respect,” she said.

“There is more of an increased workload on the councillors, but it’s like anything, what you put into the job is what you get out of it.

“As an experienced councillor, I try to be very proactive and on the ball with most things… but when you are a new councillor, it does take time to learn the ropes, how to do things, and prepare for meetings.”

Cr Kirby said she spoke to the tribunal when they were revaluating allowances and had concerns.

“Some of the newer councillors still work full-time, but were having to take their leave and annual leave to attend council meetings and commitments during the day.

“I was concerned that they were having to take days off in lieu of attending council meetings, so then they were going into their holidays, so I felt that it was fair to take the allowance increase,” she said.

At the time she made her submission to the tribunal, Cr Kirby wasn’t deputy-mayor and said she wasn’t aware of the potential change to the deputy’s allowance.

Cr Kirby is aware that the increases across the board are probably “more of a burden” on ratepayers.

“If you want quality representation and people passionate about the job, this is going to help more people to step up into the role, including more potential female councillors,” she said.

All other councillors were contacted for comments and either declined or did not reply.