Listed: Queensland council chief executive and mayor pay packets
The top executives at Queensland’s major councils take home massive annual salaries, eclipsing that of both the US President and Australian Prime Minister. SEE THE LIST
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Two Queensland council bosses have larger incomes than Anthony Albanese and Joe Biden, while at least another five local government chief executives earn about half a million dollars a year.
Brisbane City Council chief executive Colin Jensen is the highest earning council executive in the state as the boss of Australia’s biggest local government, earning between $700,000 and $799,999, according to the councils’ 2021/22 annual reports.
Down the road, Gold Coast City Council chief Tim Baker earns between $600,001 and $700,000.
Both pocket significantly more than the US President and the Australian Prime Minister, who earn about $600,000 and $550,000 - when converted to Australian dollars - respectively.
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The top executive on the Townsville City Council, Dr Prins Ralston, earns between $500,000 and $600,000, followed by Moreton Bay Regional Council chief executive, Greg Chemello, who pockets between $460,000 and $559,000.
The bloated pay cheques also extend across the state’s south east where chiefs at Sunshine Coast Regional Council (based on 2020/21 figures), Redlands and Logan City councils, with bosses Emma Thomas, Andrew Chesterman and Darren Scott respectively earn between $400,000 and $500,000.
Ipswich City Council’s chief executive, Sonia Cooper, salary is only slightly lower at $450,000.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adriann Schrinner’s income is less than half that of his council’s chief executive, but his $300,000 wage is nothing to sneeze at. Nor is the nearly $100,000 “expenses of office” allowance.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate earns nearly $290,000 to run the Glitter Strip, while Jenny Hill, Peter Flannery, Mark Jamieson, Darren Power, and Teresa Harding earn about a quarter of a million dollars as respective mayors of Townsville, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Logan and Ipswich.
Brisbane City Council
Mayor Adrian Schrinner $302,886.85 including superannuation, as well as a $99,767 “expenses of office” allowance.
CEO $700,000 to $799,999
Colin Jensen, Chief Executive Officer
Gold Coast City Council
Mayor Tom Tate $288,279 including superannuation
CEO $600,001 to $700,000
Tim Baker, Chief Executive Officer
Townsville City Council
Mayor Jenny Hill $208,117 and $24,975 in superannuation
CEO $500,000 to $600,000
Dr Prins Ralston, Chief Executive Officer
Moreton Bay Regional Council
Mayor Peter Flannery $237,753 and $28,530 superannuation
CEO $460,000 to $559,000
Greg Chemello, Chief Executive Officer
Sunshine Coast Regional Council (2020/21 report)
Mayor Mark Jamieson $228,521 and $27,422 superannuation
CEO $400,001 to $500,000
Emma Thomas, Chief Executive Officer
Logan City Council
Mayor Darren Power $263,824.46 and $28,281.60 superannuation
CEO Darren Scott $400,000 – $500,000
Darren Scott, Chief Executive Officer
Redlands City Council
Mayor Karen Williams $183,132.46 including superannuation
CEO $400,000 to $500,000
Andrew Chesterman, Chief Executive Officer
Ipswich City Council (2020/21 report)
Mayor Teresa Harding $224,498.55 including superannuation
Acting CEO $450,000
Sonia Cooper, Chief Executive Officer
Cairns Regional Council
Mayor Bob Manning $183,143 and $18,314 in superannuation
CEO $300,000 to $399,999
Mica Martin, Chief Executive Officer
Mount Isa Regional Council
Mayor Danielle Slade $136,909 (including superannuation)
CEO $200,000 to $300,000
Dale Dickson, Chief Executive Officer
Rockhampton Regional Council
Mayor Tony Williams $158,168.00 and $18,968.81 superannuation
CEO more than $200,000
Evan Pardon, Chief Executive Officer
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