City of Sydney Council workers have annual salaries exposed

The eye-watering figure taken home by the 22 staff employed by Sydney’s Lord Mayor has been revealed, and it’s no surprise many think it’s “overkill”.

The insane annual salary of staff working for Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been revealed, along with her jaw dropping forecasted spend of $47 million over the next decade.

The almost $50 million budget exceeded Sydney’s entire affordable housing plan and would account for the salaries of 22 full time staff employed to work in her office, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Each staff member would reportedly be paid $179,000 per year.

The incredible spending comes as it was revealed the Lord Mayor spent $114,000 more than her allocated budget last financial year, spending an enormous $3.955 million.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Since 2015, according to the publication, her office has spent $28 million.

The Lord Mayor was spending more on staff “than the city spends on diverse and affordable housing,” City of Sydney Labor councillor Linda Scott said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

“If the Lord Mayor cut her political staff by just 40 per cent, the city could make childcare services and access to council swimming pools free,” she said, calling on a “change” at the City of Sydney Council.

Ms Scott was perplexed over why the Lord Mayor needed “so many” staff when councillors had just one or two.

Spending has increased since her 2004 appointment by 1.7 per cent, the publication also revealed.

Council-run childcare centres, for the current financial year, were expected to make $1.5 million in revenue and public pools were forecast to make $300,000.

In comparison to Ms Moore’s 22 staff, Deputy Premier Prue Car has 14, Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has 12.2 and NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has 12, according to the latest data from the NSW Premier and Cabinet.

Sydney Councillor Linda Scott at the Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

Meanwhile, a total of 28 staff work in the office of NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Revelations about the salaries of Ms Moore’s staff came after her office faced scrutiny for spending $450,000 on foreign aid.

Sky News host Liz Storer accused the City of Sydney of “using and abusing” its access to ratepayer money and neglecting opportunities to spend it locally.

Funding that could have been spent tackling homelessness in Australia was sent to various charities in Syria, Turkey, Vanuatu, Pakistan and Tonga, Storer said.

“Never mind that the last census in 2021 told Clover Moore we’ve got over 300,500 homeless people right here in the Sydney CBD,” she commented.

“Charity starts at home, Clover Moore.

“Remember this is the same council, funded by us, which just earlier this year said that they were giving half a million dollars of ratepayers’ money to supporting the Yes campaign.”

Originally published as City of Sydney Council workers have annual salaries exposed