Clover Moore: Lord Mayor’s bizarre expenses policy says she must fly business class

SYDNEY Lord Mayor Clover Moore thinks she’s too good to fly with commoners and has a bizarre expenses policy that says she must fly business class.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore at Town Hall.

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SYDNEY Lord Mayor Clover Moore thinks she’s too good to fly with commoners and has a bizarre expenses policy that says she must fly business class.

Ms Moore is thought to be the only mayor in NSW with such a rule — other councils’ expenses policies dictating all travel be “economy only”.

The revelation comes a day after Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton announced her department would probe City of Sydney expenses in the wake of The Daily Telegraph’s exposé on council waste.

Budget figures allow a whopping $3.6 million for the office of Lord Mayor this financial year, covering 17 fulltime staff and three part-timers — including a personal driver, a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, two media advisers and five policy advisers.

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said Ms Moore’s expenses were “ridiculous”.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill.

Mr Greenhill shares one staffer with 11 other councillors and said he’s never travelled on council money.

“I’ve had to deal with the some of the biggest bushfires in NSW history,” he said. “When I was visiting fire victims I certainly wasn’t being chauffeured about.”

He estimated his annual personal budget at $63,000.

City of Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone represents a similar population to Ms Moore, but has no dedicated staff. He sold the mayoral vehicle when he was elected to council in 2012.

A spokesman for Ms Moore said: “As the Lord Mayor is expected to speak and work at these events it is appropriate she travels in business class, although she has also travelled in economy when needed.”

City of Sydney Liberal councillor Christine Forster said Ms Moore should pick up her own travels costs.

“I think if she wants to fly business she should pay for it herself,” Ms Forster said.

Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton and Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

IN OTHER NEWS

INSIDE THE COURT OF CLOVER:

* Business class travel

* Personal chauffer for council-issued Toyota Prius

* 3 secretaries

* Chief of staff

* Deputy chief of staff

* 2 media advisers

* 5 policy advisers

Total costs of office: $3.6 million

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill’s expenses are considerably less than Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s.

BLUE MOUNTAINS MAYOR MARK GREENHILL:

* Never travelled

* Drives Toyota Corolla provided by council

* Phone $1000 a year

* Stipend $56,000

* One staffer shared with 12 councillors

Estimated cost of office: $63,000

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