Gunnedah councillors say they will continue to fight for the shire to be re-categorised as regional rural under local government because pay should not be based on population.
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Cr Murray O'Keefe and Cr Ann Luke have both been vocal on the issue of remuneration, saying councillors in rural towns do just as much work as their city counterparts, if not more, and should not be paid accordingly.
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Councillors are currently paid $11,570 a year, and the mayor is paid $25,250 on top of their annual remuneration as a councillor.
This contrasts sharply with metropolitan councillors who can be paid up to $40,000, and mayoral fees of up to $200,000.
At this week's meeting, council's acting corporate and community services director Tim Muldoon informed councillors that the tribunal determined there would be no increase in mayoral and councillor fees for the 2020/21 financial year because of the effect of bush fires and COVID-19 on communities. Gunnedah also remains in the rural category for renumeration.
I'd like to encourage more young, active, income-earning business people ... to run for council, and how can we ever do that when our time is only valued at $5 an hour?
- Cr Ann Luke
Cr O'Keefe said while he could understand the tribunals' decision not to increase renumeration by 2.5 per cent, it didn't change "the fact that remuneration is so poor, it is a disincentive to take on the burden".
"I have great respect for the passion that people should want to be on council as a service to the community, which I agree with - and I think you'll discover anyone currently on council, that's why they're there - but in this day and age, it is difficult," he said.
"You've only got to look at the ranks of councillors representing rural areas in Australia to discover they are either retired from their full-time careers or self-employed, far and wide."
Cr O'Keefe said less people in a local government area did not equal less work so it shouldn't mean less pay.
"Rural is less populated and further away from major centres, which generally equals more work to physically get around and talk to people and pitch in.
"It's worthwhile saying, 'Hey, just because the people living in your shire is less, it doesn't mean the quality of work to get great results for your shire and community is diminished'."
Mr O'Keefe said he would have liked to see the rural category removed altogether to "lift the floor".
"If that floor that you earn for being a councillor was lifted at the next government election, there would be stronger competition for seats and that competition should breed a stronger and more healthy outcome for Gunnedah," he said.
Cr Luke said the way wages were determined was "atrocious" and "unfair" and she was "disappointed" in the ruling.
"If they actually want active business people, they've got to make sure there's enough recompense so when councillors have time away from the business ... they can have someone working their business in lieu of them. I'm probably on $5 an hour for councillor duty and I can't get a vet for $5 an hour," she said.
"I'd like to encourage more young, active, income-earning business people ... to run for council, and how can we ever do that when our time is only valued at $5 an hour?"