Heated debate in chamber as councillors vote on a 2 per cent pay increase during the COVID-19 crisis

Councillors at a southeast Queensland council have had to declare their hand on accepting a pay rise during the COVID-19 crisis, a hike that would take their pay to more than $141,000.

SEVERAL Moreton Bay councillors did not appreciate being asked to forgo a 2 per cent pay rise today, sparking a heated debate across two council chambers.

By bringing a motion to today’s council meeting, Mayor Peter Flannery forced councillors to publicly indicate whether would forgo a pay rise that had been recommended by the independent Tribunal.

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Quest Community News understands that heading into the meeting, a number of councillors were happy to accept the $2775 pay rise, which would bring their annual renumeration to $141,520.

Mayor Flannery would have got a $4570 increase bringing his total renumeration to $233,091 while deputy mayor Denise Sims would have got a $3163 rise to $161,499.

Mayor Flannery’s motion was to not accept the recommended pay rise, “as a gesture of support for residents and local businesses during the COVID-19 for the financial year commencing 1 July 2020”.

“We are in uncertain times and there is heightened community expectation on elected members to provide leadership and a problem-solving orientation to matters facing our economy,” Cr Flannery said.

Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery. Picture: Renae Droop/RDW Photography

“In my view, it is inappropriate to accept a pay increase while others take a pay cut or lose their job.

“We do have a choice, and accepting an increase shows a lack of thought and understanding of what is going on around us.”

After some heated debate, the motion to reject a pay rise was eventually passed 11-2, with councillors Mick Gillam and Cath Tonks voting against.

Cr Constance initially took offence to the mayor’s claim that accepting the increase showed a lack of understanding.

“I think that’s a very unfair and untrue statement to make,” he said.

“There are people around this table who are experiencing hardships, there is no doubt about it.

“Yes us as individuals are very fortunate with our jobs, where us as individuals have not lost our income, but our families have.

“We do understand and the people around this table are impacted in different ways as well.”

Cr Gillam argued that councillors were worth the money they earned, often working 80-hour weeks with late night meetings and on weekends.

“Councillors, you are worth your salt,” he said. “The money to me is nothing, it’s just the principle of the thing.”

Cr Gillam and Cr Darren Grimwade also asked whether the money from the pay rise could be given to the community somehow, rather that “disappear into the council’s black hole.”

Cr Gillam also suggested making it optional so some councillors could choose to accept the pay rise if they wanted.

Both ideas were shot down by Cr Flannery.

Some councillors who initially wanted the pay rise eventually opted to reject it after the debate.

Other rejected it from the outset, including councillors Brook Savige, Tony Latter, Jodie Shipway, Denise Sims, Karl Winchester and Adam Hain.

The vote means that councillors will have to wait another year before a chance at any future pay rise.