Keith Rhoades welcomes superannuation boost for Coffs councillors
Unanimous decision to increase pay comes as landmark decision ensures elected councillors become just like everybody else.
Coffs Harbour
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On top of a pay rise, incoming councillors will get something no councillor has ever received before – superannuation.
A campaign to secure super for councillors finally came to an end with the passage of the NSW government’s Local Government Amendment Act, which ensures the state’s 1300 representatives receive the same entitlements as the rest of the public.
It was a decision welcomed by Cr Keith Rhoades who campaigned hard for the change during his seven-year tenure as Local Government NSW president.
Mr Rhoades said until now there had been a reluctance on the part of both parties to progress issue.
“It has been a 15-year campaign, local councillors (were) the only body of people that received payment and weren’t entitled to super,” he said.
“Eventually Minister (Shelley) Hancock has seen the fairness and merit in it and cabinet agreed to back it from July 1, 2022.
“It’s a pretty big win across NSW.”
The decision to pay superannuation comes as Coffs Harbour City councillors recently voted to increase their own pay by 2 per cent, the maximum allowable.
The decision will cost $6,420 and means councillors who serve in the 2021/22 financial year, including those elected in September, will earn $24,810. The Mayor’s rate rises to an additional $61,280.
Councillor pay is set by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal which this year has determined an increase of 2 per cent on the minimum and maximum rates was appropriate. It is the same increase council staff under the Local Government (State) Award 2020 will receive.
Whether or not to implement the increase is a matter for individual councils and as Coffs Harbour is classed as a regional city, the minimum rate would be $14,100 per year.
Mr Rhoades said the remuneration of NSW councillors should be increased and pointed to the sunshine state as an example of good practice.
Councillors in Queensland are paid significantly more than their NSW counterparts, with mayors paid anywhere between $258,000 to $108,000 and councillors between $154,006 to $54,110.
Recognising being a councillor could be a “full time job”, Mr Rhoades said a higher rate of pay would enable more people to consider swapping their day job to run for council, therefore attracting a “larger field” of candidates.
“Councillors are paid a pittance, not an allowance, for the hours they commit to (the job),” he said.
“What’s the saying? Fair day's work for a fair day's pay.”
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