‘We deserve it’: Wagga councillors vote in pay rise

Wagga councillors voted for a pay rise for themselves at Monday night’s council meeting. Find out what they’ll get in their next pay packet.

Wagga City councillors have given themselves a 22 per cent pay rise, while the mayor’s fee will increase nearly 40 per cent and see him pocket an extra $17,000 per year.

Councillors voted in favour of the pay rise at Monday night’s council meeting, which will see them receive an additional $4620 after their pay increases from $20,690 to $25,310.

Meantime Mayor Dallas Tout’s pay will increase from $45,140 to $62,510 (plus superannuation).

Five councillors approved the rises at the meeting, with Councillor Michael Henderson the only dissenting voice in the debate, arguing that it was “morally wrong”.

“It doesn’t feel right to me, it feels like the ratepayers will be disappointed by this,” he said. “As this council is quite newly elected I feel we should adjourn this for another 12 months.”

Mayor Dallas Tout’s pay will increase from $45,140 to $62,510 (plus superannuation). Picture: Patrick Morrow

However Deputy Mayor Jenny McKinnon said it was important to provide adequate remuneration for councillors, to attract a greater diversity of representation in council.

“I think it is a big shame if we do not pass this because we are limiting those who want to join council in the future; those who do not have a well paid job can have the opportunity of making the big decisions for the community,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Jenny McKinnon said it was important to provide adequate remuneration for councillors. Picture: Wagga City Council

“With this paid increase, it could see more women make a move towards council. I know I do not want to be here for just one term but it would be great if we could have more diverse backgrounds in our chamber.”

Councillor Tim Koschel was equally supportive of the pay increase, telling his fellow councillors: “I believe the correct people sitting in those positions deserve compensation”.

Councillors Amelia Parkins and Georgie Davies were also in support of the motion.

Councillor Richard Foley had the community in mind when he stated in the meeting he will donate his pay raise to the local Wagga men’s shelter.

“I elected to donate my pay raise to the Edel Quinn Mens Shelter ,” he said.

The new pay rates will come into effect from the councillors’ next pay period, with the cost of the increases this financial year to be taken from elections savings according to council papers.

The pay increase is in line with advice from the NSW Local Government Remuneration tribunal, and comes after councillors resolved not to take a pay rise in 2020 due to the pandemic and budget constraints.

The move has been welcomed by a Wagga business owner and a former councillor.

Prince of Wales Hotel owner Greg Nichols said he thought higher pay for councillors would help attract the right candidates for the role.

“Me personally I don’t have a problem (with the rise),” he said. “With the time and effort they put in, maybe more money provided to them can give us better councillors.”

Former councillor Kay Hull, who served from 1991 to 1998, said the pay increase was an important step in giving the community an appreciation of the many and varied roles of council.

“(The Mayor’s role) deserves this sort of salary because it is a large role that takes the time of what is a full-time job,” she said.

Mrs Hull said when she was a councillor she received a low rate of pay, remembering in 1998 getting a rise from $2000 to $10,000.

“I remember being very underpaid; many of the members were retired,” she said. “By providing an increase now, we could see fresh faces ... people who are passionate and want to provide for the betterment of the community.”

Mrs Hull said when she was a councillor she received a low rate of pay, remembering in 1998 getting a rise from $2000 to $10,000. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Wagga Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association president Lynn Bodell also supported the pay rise, believing it would help attract better qualified councillors.

“With the increase of the pay, we need quality and hopefully with this can find an ideal councillor that will be outside of a normal 9 to 5 job and can function on this full time,” she said.

“I do agree with it; the ratepayers’ association have mixed views but it does warrant it because of the hours they put in and because in the past they were poorly paid.”