Councillor Mark Dal Bon once again did not want an annual pay rise. Photo: Griffith City Council.
Maverick Griffith councillor Mark Dal Bon has once again voted against receiving an annual pay rise, but the majority of his colleagues have backed an increase in line with a tribunal recommendation.
Councillors across NSW are paid an allowance rather than a full-time salary. The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal makes recommendations on how much these allowances should increase each year, with councils required to determine the level to be paid within the tribunal’s range.
The tribunal recommended an increase of 3.7 per cent, taking the annual councillor allowance to $22,537. The same increase could also be applied to the additional fee paid to the mayor, lifting that annual allowance to $49,175.
Councillor Shari Blumer moved that Griffith councillors adopt the tribunal recommendation.
Her motion was backed by councillor Tony O’Grady, who said it was a fair amount.
“I do note that CPI [inflation] is close to 4.5 per cent, wages have increased by more than 3.7 per cent,” Cr O’Grady said.
Councillor Scott Groat abstained from voting on the matter.
“I believe this should be awarded through the remuneration tribunal; I don’t think councillors should be forced to vote on this, because it’s a pecuniary interest. We should not be voting on our own profit and loss,” he said.
Mayor Doug Curran noted councillors were obliged to vote on the matter.
All councillors who voted supported the 3.7 per cent increase except Cr Dal Bon, who voted against it.
He did not speak on the matter but was also the only councillor to vote against a pay rise last year.
“No councillor is forced to go out there and become a councillor, they do it on their own initiative,” he said at the time.
Nevertheless, the motion to increase councillor allowances was passed.
Former councillor Simon Croce backed the decision, saying councillors work hard and deserve the increase.
At the same meeting, councillors unanimously voted to waive venue hire fees for a Wagga-based Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) forum at the Griffith Regional Theatre, effectively providing a ratepayer-funded sponsorship worth up to $2000.
The decision comes despite council previously declining a similar request from organisers of the first TEDx Griffith event.
The Murrumbidgee Health and Knowledge Precinct Regional Health Innovation Showcase will be held on 11 August.
It is estimated that hiring the Burley Griffin Room, along with technical staff, equipment and venue support, would cost between $1000 and $2000 for the day — an amount the MLHD will not need to pay.
