WINGECARRIBEE councillors are divided over the push for them to go full-time following reports they work harder for much less than their Queensland counterparts.
Four councillors indicated they would support the push while another four, including the mayor, said they would not
Councillor Jim Clarke was unable to be contacted by the News before the story went to print.
Councillors Halstead, Stranger, Arkwright and McLaughlin were paid a base council allowance of $11,340 during the 2008-09 financial year while councillors Clark and Mauger received a base of 14,364 for the same period.
This compares to Townsville councillors who earn more than $80,000 each a year.
The News understands these allowances have since been increased.
Mayor Duncan Gair described the base allowance of around $48,000 he now receives as councillor and mayor as “fair” even though Townsville’s mayor sits on more than $135,000 a year.
“As a full-time job it is not enough but I chose to be mayor and I didn’t do it for the money because you wouldn’t - but the remuneration is just and I would call it fair,” Cr Gair said.
“The community and government have to weigh up the representation that is expected of councillors and what they feel their remuneration is worth.
“What people don’t realise is that a large percentage of that remuneration I get goes to paying someone to work in my business while I do my mayoral and councillor duties.
“It is up to the community and government to weigh up the representation that is expected of councillors and decide what they feel their remuneration is worth.”
Councillor David Stranger said the demands placed on councillors is far greater than he had anticipated.
“I get enormous satisfaction from representing and helping the community,” Mr Stranger said.
“But there is a lot more involved that you can’t truly understand until you experience it.
“As well as council meetings I am on around 10 committees and I also work full-time in real estate.
“The legislation requirements imposed on local councils only keep increasing and Wingecarribee is unique in that we have our own water and sewerage that council are responsible for.
“With Sydney councils there is a lot of cross over.”
Deputy Mayor Graham McLaughlin said he couldn’t see how going full-time as a councillor would ever work.
“There is a big difference between NSW and Queensland councils. Queensland has super councils,” Cr McLaughlin said.
“That would mean amalgamating and abolishing the smaller councils. How would you have the same relationship with your constituants?
“I just don’t see it ever happening here.”
Councillor Juliet Arkwright said making the position of councillor full-time would attract a new wave of candidates.
“It would really open the role up to a greater range of people and may lead to a more evenly spread representation of the community,” she said.
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NO
Cr Ken Halstead
“I am totally opposed. As far as I am concerned you stand for council at the local level to do what you can for the local ratepayer and the money would be better spent on infrastructure such as roads.”
Cr Jim Mauger
“No, not at the present time.”
Cr Graham McLaughlin
“No, and I don’t think ratepayers would go for it either.”
Mayor Duncan Gair
“I think we are growing towards needing it to be full-time but I don’t think as a shire we are there just yet.”
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YES
Cr Paul Tuddenham
“I would support it but by the same token I think the whole constitution which is being addressed now needs to reconsider the relevance of state government.”
Cr Juliet Arkwright
“I am absolutely 100 per cent behind it. I believe it will open up the role to a wider variety of candidates.”
Cr David Stranger
“Since being involved there is a lot more work than I first realised, so I would certainly support it.”
Cr Larry Whipper
“I think in theory it is a good idea but whether or not it will get beyond the talk is probably another story. I think it would be a positive move forward.”
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