Revealed: the Gold Coast’s best paid job is being advertised

The Gold Coast’s top job is up for grabs. The council is to go to the market for the appointment of the Glitter Strip’s most senior bureaucrat’s position.

THE Gold Coast’s top job is up for grabs.

The council is to go to the market for the appointment of the Glitter Strip’s most senior bureaucrat’s position.

After a marathon full council meeting on Tuesday, councillors debated behind closed doors late into the night, discussing what was listed as a “confidential staffing matter”.

The Bulletin can reveal the resolution from the secret agenda item involves the extension of the contract for CEO. Dale Dickson has held the position since 2003.

Gold Coast Council CEO Dale Dickson. Photo: Jerad Williams.

The current term of Mr Dickson’s latest employment contract started on October 2017 and is due to terminate in September next year.

SECRET TALKS ON DALE DICKSON’S JOB

A report in 2018 outlined how the CEO’s salary had blown out to more than $600,000 with Mr Dickson earning more than the Prime Minister.

His salary is similar to counterparts at other large councils. Gold Coast City is the second largest local government in Australia with a budget of $1.1 billion and more than 3400 staff.

DALE DICKSON SURVIVES AT CITY HALL

In a vote that was carried unanimously, councillors agreed that council “commence a process for the appointment of a chief executive officer”.

They agreed that “the process of appointment of the CEO officer be managed by the Office of the Mayor and that appropriate external support and professional appointment, legal and other advice be retained and funded from an appropriate cost centre”.

Mayor Tom Tate at Evandale, being sworn in by CEO Dale Dickson as Gold Coast Mayor for a third term. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The council would be required to liaise with the Local Government Department to ensure the appointment process met with “the highest level of accountability and transparency is adhered to”.

Mayor Tate is required to provide regular updates to council. Councillors are reluctant to talk publicly about a staffing matter.

WHO IS COUNCIL’S $600,000 MAN

Councillor Tate told the Bulletin on Wednesday: “Council yesterday took the unanimous decision to commence a recruitment process for the appointment of Chief Executive Officer.

“This is consistent with the decision council took in September 2017 when Mr Dickson was re-appointed.”

Dale Dickson leaving a meeting in Southport. Pic by David Clark.

“This will be a highly sought-after position and it will be the subject of a thorough and transparent, nation-wide recruitment process.

“My office will lead that process with appropriate external support and liaison with the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs.”