Deadline looms to slash pay for suspended Logan mayor and councillor Stacey McIntosh

A June 30 deadline looms for an embattled council to decide whether to grant a suspended mayor and councillor 2.1 per cent pay rises.

LOGAN City councillors have until June 30 to slash suspended mayor Luke Smith’s pay under a special Local Government Regulation.

Cr Smith was suspended from his role on full pay in May after he was charged with perjury and corruption.

Since then, he has continued to collect his $223,821 salary.

Former Logan mayor John Freeman said the council had the ability to stop all pay rises for the mayor, deputy mayor and councillors under sections 247 and 248 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.

And he said the pay rises for Mayor Smith and suspended councillor Stacey McIntosh could have been stopped last year if council voted against the salary increases before July 1, 2018.

Cr Stacey McIntosh and Mayor Luke Smith were suspended in May, 2018.

“Councillors had the ability to reduce the suspended mayor’s remuneration on July 1 last year but did not have the political fortitude to pass a resolution to make that happen,” he said.

“The councillors could have also reduced Cr Stacey McIntosh’s remuneration to $1 but they would have had to accept their pay packets going down to $1 as well.

“They still have the power to stop the next financial year’s 2.1 per cent pay rise to Cr McIntosh, but in doing so they would have to vote down their own pay rises of $2854, due to kick in on July 1.

“If they voted down the pay rise, all councillors would still take home $135,891, which is what they earned this year.”

Former Logan mayor John Freeman wants council to vote down pay rises for suspended mayor Luke Smith and suspended councillor Stacey McIntosh.

Mr Freeman called on Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to change the Local Government Act so councillors charged with criminal or serious offences were suspended without pay.

He said those found not guilty, would receive all back pay and entitlements but those found guilty would get nothing.

● 2.1% PAY RISES FOR SUSPENDED PAIR

● GOVT CHIEF HEARS OF PAY RISE ANGER

Under the proposed 2.1 per cent pay rise, the suspended mayor would be paid an extra $4706 in the next financial year bringing his annual take-home pay to $228,521.

Cr McIntosh would collect an extra $2854 with her annual take-home pay totalling $138,745.

Both suspended councillors have denied any wrongdoing.

Local Government Regulation 2012 which sets out the rules for councils to accept pay rises.

Last night, Opposition councillors Lisa Bradley, Darren Power, Jon Raven and Laurie Koranski said they were willing to take the cut.

Logan City councillors Jon Raven (Div 5); Laurie Koranski (Div 4), Lisa Bradley (Div1) and Darren Power (Division 10).

“On Tuesday, we will propose a motion at council’s meeting to reject the pay rise for the mayor and councillors,” Cr Power said.

“The community can’t accept that suspended councillors would get a pay rise — it just adds insult to injury.

“We agree and we’re willing to give up some of our pay to stop that happening. We hope we’ll have the support of the other councillors.

“I’m surprised John Freeman is worried about a 2.1per cent increase when he voted for a 23per cent pay rise as mayor just after getting elected in 2004.”

The lack of action on curbing the pay packets of the two suspended councillors was raised last week when aggrieved residents met with Local Government Director General Warwick Agnew.

Head of the delegation Diana Howes said if the council failed to cut the pay rises for the two suspended councillors she and about 200 other ratepayers would withhold their rates payments.

Diana Howes with aggrieved residents who want a stop to any pay rises to suspended mayor Luke Smith and suspended councillor Stacey McIntosh. Residents have threatened to withhold rates payments until the pay rise issue has been sorted out.

“If council fails to vote to cut Luke Smith’s pay and axe Stacey McIntosh’s 2.1per cent pay rise, I believe it is fair for ratepayers to withhold their rates payments until this is voted on and sorted out fairly under the Act,” she said.

The Logan Ratepayers Association also pushed for the pay rise to be axed at this week’s full council meeting.

Logan Ratepayers Association president Rod Shaw.

President Rod Shaw said ratepayers were disgusted that Cr McIntosh has sought and been granted 13 adjournments in her court proceedings and would seek further delays while she continued to be paid.

“Councillors cannot reduce her level of remuneration without it impacting on their own salary but, by sacrificing the increase they will stand in solidarity with their electorate and deliver a modicum of justice,” Mr Shaw said.

In December, the Independent Remuneration Tribunal approved a 2.1 per cent pay rise for mayors, deputy mayors and councillors of category 7 councils, Logan, Moreton and Sunshine Coast.

Under sections 247 and 248 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, councils must pay their mayor, deputy mayor and councillors the maximum amount set by the tribunal, unless a council votes otherwise.

If a council decides not to pay councillors the maximum set by the tribunal, the council then has to decide the remuneration before July 1.

But the amount cannot be more than the maximum recommended by the tribunal and must be the same for every councillor, bar the mayor and deputy mayor.

Logan City Council was contacted on Saturday about the pay rise issue and said it would respond on Monday.