Parramatta MP Donna Davis refusing to quit as Lord Mayor

She’s a first-term backbencher but Labor MP Donna Davis is earning more than some ministerial colleagues – by keeping a second six-figure job.

Backbench Labor MP Donna Davis is being paid more than some of her ministerial colleagues by continuing to collect a six-figure salary as Parramatta Mayor.

Ms Davis is under increasing pressure to resign as mayor, but on Monday saw off a council motion calling on her to quit.

With the support of her Labor colleagues, the first-term Parramatta MP refused to step aside from her local government role.

She said she would continue on as mayor, despite a number of councillors saying she was doing ratepayers a disservice by holding on.

Independent councillor Lorraine Wearne moved the motion, saying it would be “physically impossible” to be both a state MP and mayor.

Labor MP Donna Davis outside the Rosehill Public School polling booth on election day, March 25, 2023.

“I have been Lord Mayor of the city twice and my personal view is that being Lord Mayor of the city is a full time job,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

That view was shared by former Parramatta councillor Bob Dwyer, who served as mayor from 2019 to 2021.

“If Donna thinks the Mayor of Parramatta is a part time role she’s kidding herself,” he said.

As Parramatta Mayor, Ms Davis earns an allowance of $114,770, plus a $35,520 fee paid to all councillors.

Ms Davis continues to serve as Parramatta Mayor.

Adding that to the $172,576 earned by backbench MPs, her income is over $322,000 — more than the salary of some ministers, who earn $315,814.

Ms Davis on Wednesday said she was getting advice on donating some of her income to charity.

While a number of first-term MPs are currently sitting as councillors, none are serving as mayor.

Wakehurst MP Michael Regan has confirmed he will stand down as Northern Beaches mayor, and Ryde MP Jordan Lane quit the mayoral role before the election.

Donna Davis with her family on election night.

Under laws passed under the previous Coalition government, sitting MPs who also serve as councillors are forced to quit their local government roles after two years or when their term ends, whichever is sooner.

The laws were passed specifically to oust Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore from parliament.

That means Ms Davis could continue in her role as mayor until September, when Parramatta Council will hold a ballot for the position.

While some MPs have previously served as Mayors while in office, Parramatta councillors who spoke to the Telegraph were concerned that Parramatta is too important to be left to someone doing the job “part time”.

Ms Davis told The Daily Telegraph that it was an “honour” to be declared the state MP and she said she looks forward to being “officially sworn in”.

“I will stay in the role of Lord Mayor for a period of time, as the legislation allows,” she said.

“While I have never intended to stay for a long period, I will remain as Lord Mayor to finalise matters I have been working on and to transition our newly appointed CEO who started in the job (on Monday),” she said.

Originally published as Parramatta MP Donna Davis refusing to quit as Lord Mayor