2023-02-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   7 FEBRUARY 2023




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                           7 FEBRUARY 2023

                                                           1.  Competitive     remuneration     terms:   Councillor
                                                               McMahon submitted that as a Councillor in his first
                                                               term, the role has significant challenges, stress,
                                                               responsibility, and a lack of job security. Councillor
                                                               McMahon highlighted that the 2022 Queensland
                                                               Education EBA resulted in there being greater earning
                                                               capacity in his previous role as a teacher, together with
                                                               greater job security than as a Councillor.
                                                           2.  Council   doesn’t   have   divisions  and _ therefore
                                                               Councillors    have    significant   travel   across
                                                               Toowoomba’s large and diverse LGA. Commitments
                                                               are often 7 days per week, exceeding regular full time
                                                               job responsibilities.
                                                           3.  Comparison to other LGA — for example Ipswich
                                                               Council   which   has   divisions,  with  Councillor
                                                               responsibility for 30,000 constituents vs. 100,000 for
                                                               Toowoomba. Ipswich is Category 6.
                       Request                         Change from Category 5 to Category 6.

                                                       The Commission will commence its review of categories and
                       Determination                   the category system in 2023 and take into consideration the
                                                       matters raised. Council is invited to participate in the 2023
                                                       review. No change to the current category pending the
                                                       Commission’s 2023 review.

                 3     Date received                   Written Submission on 10 October 2022

                       Received from                   Individual submission:
                                                       Cr Alison Jones, Mackay Regional Council

                       Summary of submission           Local Government councillors are the closest to the community
                                                       and put in long hours that are no different to a state or federal
                                                       politician. As a third term councillor, concern that the true value
                                                       of councillors’ work is not being considered. The factors relied
                                                       upon in Councillor Jones’ submission included:
                                                           1.  Councillor income of $108,000, while performing an
                                                               average of 50-80 hours per week. Average 50 hour per
                                                               week   post-tax  salary  equates  to  approximately
                                                               $66,000 per annum or $24 per hour. Councillor roles
                                                               are 24/7, with evening calls, weekend work and no
                                                               overtime to recompense Councillors for their time.
                                                           2.  Remuneration     should   fairly reflect  role   and
                                                               responsibilities — using the analogy of Council as a
                                                               company, Councillors are effectively members of a
                                                               company    board   with  responsibility for budgets
                                                               exceeding $100 million per year.

       LOCAL GOVERNMENT REMUNERATION COMMISSION | ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22                                            22

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