City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore’s $47 million office fund, 22 staff members revealed

A shocking $47 million in ratepayer funds will be allocated to the office of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore over the next ten years, as the number of staff who report to her can be revealed.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore will spend a staggering $47 million over the next ten years on her own team of advisors – more than the city’s entire affordable housing plan.

The Daily Telegraph can confirm Ms Moore’s office spent $3.955 million in the last financial year, $114,000 over budget, while $28 million has been spent by her office since 2015.

Council budgets have revealed the Lord Mayor will be allocated $47 million in ratepayer funds over the next ten years.

A council spokesman told this publication a total of 22 full-time staff were employed to work in the office of the mayor.

It is understood average salary in the Lord Mayor’s office is an estimated $179,000 a year.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Meanwhile, the latest data from NSW Premier and Cabinet reveals Deputy Premier Prue Car has 14 staff, Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has 12.2 staff members, while NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has 12 staff members in his office.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has a total of 28 staff in his office as of June.

City of Sydney Labor councillor Linda Scott said Ms Moore is spending more on her personal political staff every year “than the city spends on diverse and affordable housing”.

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“If the lord mayor cut her political staff by just 40 per cent, the city could make childcare services and access to council swimming pools free,” she said.

“It is time for change at the City of Sydney Council.”

In the 2023/24 budget, it is expected that council-run childcare facilities will generate a revenue of $1.5 million, while income from public aquatic facilities would come in at $300,000.

“Each councillor has one or two staff members allocated to them, why does the Lord Mayor need so many,” Ms Scott said.

Meanwhile, Liberal councillor Shauna Jarrett sounded the alarm over the “big number” of staff in the mayor’s office, citing an increase in the number of staff from 19.6 full-time employees in 2016 to 22 appointed to the mayor’s office in 2023.

A total of 22 people report to City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore’s office. Picture Rohan Kelly.

Law firm intern, Ella Harrop, 23, of Chippendale said she wanted to know how residents secured “lucrative” jobs in the office of the Lord Mayor.

“I want one with that kind of salary,” she said. “the number of employees is a bit excessive and it's a lot of money allocated to them.”

While 58-year-old chef, Richard, described the mayor’s staffing levels as “unacceptable”.

“It’s just overkill,” he said. “I think it’s unacceptable.

“It’s hypocritical to be ‘committed’ to addressing the housing crisis, but giving yourself and others these kinds of salaries”.

Councillor Linda Scott

Councillor Shauna Jarrett

A City of Sydney spokesman told The Daily Telegraph the Office of the Lord Mayor was “currently comprised of 22 staff”.

“This unit provides the Lord Mayor with strategic policy advice, responds to community correspondence, provides administrative support and runs civic events such as Citizenship Ceremonies,” he said. “An Office of the Lord Mayor for the City of Sydney was established well before Clover Moore became Lord Mayor in 2004.”

Since her appointment in 2004, expenditure in the office increased by 1.7 per cent per year.

“(Ms Moore) has council authority to determine the structure of the Office of the Lord Mayor in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer,” he said. “The annual budget allocated and providing the staffing of the unit does not exceed the equivalent of 22 full time staff.”