Adelaide City Council chief executive Clare Mockler receives annual salary package of $406,000

A city council employee who started 19 years ago on a $33,000 annual wage is its new boss – on an immensely larger salary. Here’s why the council says she’s worth the big bucks.

Adelaide City Council chief executive Clare Mockler has become one of the highest-paid female public servants in the state.

Ms Mockler was appointed last month on a total annual salary package of $406,000, following the departure of her predecessor, Mark Goldstone, for health reasons.

Mr Goldstone, a former Prospect Council chief executive officer, was on $383,000 a year before he resigned in April.

The increased package for Ms Mockler comes after councils across the state froze staff salaries and cut costs during the pandemic, with Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor last year agreeing to take a 20 per cent cut to her $183,500 annual allowance.

Ms Mockler, who was Mr Goldstone’s deputy, had acted in the chief executive role since he went on extended sick leave in January.

New Adelaide City Council chief executive Clare Mockler during a meeting at Adelaide Town Hall. Picture: Brenton Edwards

This involved managing the council’s daily operations and running meetings, along with implementing the recommendations from a confidential report into the council’s toxic culture.

Ms Mockler also became responsible for finding $20m in recurring operational savings demanded by the council’s dominant faction, which initially included an organisational restructure which cut dozens of full-time positions.

Irish-born Ms Mockler, who migrated from England in 1999, successfully applied for the position of chief executive, beating a field of candidates from within South Australia and interstate.

She joined the council in 2002 as a project officer its customer service department, on an annual salary of $33,000.

Mrs Verschoor, a former council general manager, chaired the selection panel which recommended Ms Mockler to elected members.

“Clare is highly qualified for the role and was selected in a unanimous decision of council,” she said.

“She brings vision, passion and proven expertise in driving new initiatives and delivering on our strategic plan to benefit our community.”

Former Adelaide City Council chief executive Mark Goldstone. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Ms Verschoor said Ms Mockler was leading an organisation “with annual expenditure of over $200 million and assets valued at almost $2 billion:

“The City of Adelaide, ranked as the third most liveable city in the world, is home to over 25,000 residents and 15,000 businesses, which employ more than 142,000 people, and welcomes over 300,000 people each day,” she said.

“The City of Adelaide’s gross regional product is $20.2 billion, accounting for 18.2 per cent of the gross state product.

“It’s an exceptionally challenging and time-consuming role leading this organisation to ensure it delivers for our community.”

Ms Verschoor said Ms Mockler’s package was “independently assessed, based on external advice, and determined on market conditions”.

“An independent remuneration analysis was undertaken for this position prior to recruitment,” she said.

“This was based on the scope, challenges, complexity and accountability of the role, other comparable roles and wage movements across the sector.”

Ms Verschoor said this information, together with an analysis of the council’s financial position, “informed the CEO’s final package, which was endorsed by all council members”.

“As deputy CEO and acting CEO since January 2021, Clare demonstrated strong financial acumen and strategic thinking, with council’s budget forecast back into the black and is spearheading important changes to the organisation,” she said.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor during an Adelaide City Council meeting. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Ms Mockler’s salary as a capital city council chief executive compares to $498,000 for the Melbourne City Council, $511,000 in Sydney, $389,000 in Perth and $700,000 in Brisbane, which has one council covering the entire metropolitan area.

It is not the highest salary paid by the Adelaide City Council for a chief executive.

This was $419,000 for Mr Goldstone’s predecessor, Peter Smith, who now works in Victoria.

Ms Mockler’s package is similar to salaries being paid to several women who are chief executives of state government departments.

They include Attorney-General’s Department chief executive Caroline Mealor and Human Services Department chief executive Lois Boswell, who both receive $468,012, Primary Industries and Regions chief executive Michelle Edge, on $407,854, Child Protection Department chief executive Cathy Taylor on $400,411, Trade and Investment Department chief executive Leonie Muldoon on $407,854, Recreation, Sport and Racing Department chief executive Kylie Taylor on $267,216 and Wellbeing SA chief executive Lyn Dean on $305,891.

Former BankSA chief executive Nick Reade is the highest paid public servant in South Australia. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt.

The highest paid public servant in South Australia is the Premier and Cabinet Department chief executive Nick Reade.

The former BankSA chief executive receives $637,271, of which he pays $500,000 into his superannuation account as a salary sacrifice, leaving him with a salary of $77,137.

Other departmental chief executives paying large amounts of their salaries into their superannuation include Health and Wellbeing Department chief executive Christopher McGowan, who is sacrificing $446,701 of his $586,290 package, leaving him with a salary of $67,501.

Another is Infrastructure and Transport Department chief executive Tony Braxton, who is sacrificing $407,123 of his $499,213 package, leaving him with a salary of $46,707.

Several departmental chief executives receive annual vehicle allowances ranging from $9525 to $25,740.