‘Top heavy’ Geelong councils paying staff well above $100k a year as watchdog calls for greater focus on ratepayers’ needs

Amid a cost of living crisis, working for a local council cannot hurt.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston. Photo: Kiel Egging.

The average salary of employees at each of the Geelong region’s councils now exceeds $100,000 a year, with a council watchdog claiming staff sit in “ivory towers” while treating ratepayers as “cash cows”.

The Borough of Queenscliffe had one of the highest average salaries in the state, with its 46 full-time equivalent staff set to earn an average of $117,696 this financial year.

Surf Coast Shire was not far behind, with its 369 staff earning an average of $116,932, followed closely by Geelong’s 1867 employees averaging $113,323.

For Golden Plains Shire’s 199 staff, the average salary is $101,688.

Ratepayers’ lobby group Council Watch released data for all Victorian local governments following an analysis of 2023-24 council budgets.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston described councils as “top heavy”.

He said they spend an extraordinary amount of the money they collect on staff.

“Senior staff in offices and ivory towers are no longer serving the community adequately,” he said.

“With soaring rates, fees, fines and charges, councils have created bloated organisations that are unsustainable in their current form.

“We know that councils are the second most complained about bodies in Victoria.

“Councils seem to ignore the Australian values of fairness, accountability, equal treatment, democracy and respect.

“Instead they treat the community like a cash cow for their next idea or junket.”

According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the average salary of full-time public sector workers is $107,706, with men on average earning 12 per cent more than women.

Geelong council chief executive Ali Wastie, understood to be on an annual salary above $400,000, said her staff provided important services for the community.

“Our salaries are in line with market conditions and other local governments of comparative size,” she said.

Borough of Queenscliffe chief executive Martin Gill said as the smallest municipality in Victoria, it was unable to employ large teams to support its services.

“For most of the legislated services we provide, we have one staff member undertaking the work,” he said.

“This has two outcomes with respect to salaries.

“The first is that we need to engage experienced and skilled staff who can work autonomously – higher salary.

“The second is that we don’t have supporting teams of less experienced professionals – lower salary – to reduce the average salary.”

Surf Coast Shire boss Robyn Seymour.

Mr Gill’s counterpart at the Surf Coast Shire, Robyn Seymour, praised her “skilled and dedicated” workforce.

“We believe our staff work hard and are paid fairly for the important work they do,” she said.

“Salary figures in our end-of-year financial statements include on-costs including superannuation, WorkCover costs, accrued leave, recruitment, training, protective equipment and compliance checks, as these costs are shared across each staff member.”

Golden Plains Shire declined to comment.

Originally published as ‘Top heavy’ Geelong councils paying staff well above $100k a year as watchdog calls for greater focus on ratepayers’ needs