What Melbourne councillors claim as expenses, funded by ratepayers
MELBOURNE councillors are spending tens of thousands of ratepayer dollars on childcare, conferences, mobile phone bills and travel, with one council claiming almost $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses in one year.
Leader
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MELBOURNE councillors are claiming tens of thousands of dollars in expense entitlements, with some councils clocking up almost $100,000 in a single year.
Figures show Port Phillip Council’s nine councillors claimed almost $100,000 in combined out-of-pocket expenses in one year — more than 31 times Monash Council, whose 11 councillors claimed just over $3000.
The Local Government Act allows councillors to be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred while carrying out council duties.
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Melbourne metropolitan councillors were also paid an annual allowance of between $8490 and $30,223, and mayors were paid between $60,442 and $96,534.
Leader analysed annual reports and published expense reports from Melbourne councils, and found councillors at the City of Port Phillip, one of the smallest councils by geographical area, claimed $98,750.48 in the year to June 2018.
More than $23,000 was claimed by three councillors for child and family care; Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss claimed $10,593.48, Cr Tim Baxter claimed $5536.84, and Cr Marcus Pearl claimed $6894.50.
There was also more than $16,000 claimed for conferences and training; Cr Katherine Copsey spent $8017.18 between July and September last year, and Cr Ogy Simic spent $8421.73 between October and December.
In a written statement, Cr Voss said many of a councillor’s duties had to be after hours, and childcare arrangements were often essential for councillors to perform these duties.
Ratepayers Victoria Vice President Frank Sullivan said he did not have faith in the system that kept councils accountable and wanted the Victorian Auditor-General to follow the lead of South Australia and scrutinise how ratepayer cash was spent.
Picture: Jake Nowakowski
“There’s little to no accountability on the control of those expenses,” he said.
“At the end of the day the poor old ratepayer is the one who has to pay.”
In 2016, a parliamentary inquiry found no “oversight” over council audits, a lack of independence and work quality concerns.
The professional development payments for Cr Copsey and Cr Simic primarily related to an Australian Institute of Company Directors course, she said.
The Australian Institute of Company Directors runs courses on the roles and duties of board directors.
Councillors from Maribyrnong Council, the third smallest Melbourne municipality by area, claimed $80,071.21 between November 2016 and October 2017; during what the council called a “council year”.
Between May and July last year, Maribyrnong Mayor Catherine Cumming claimed $16,880 for childcare and Cr Cuc Lam claimed $11,884.
On top of this, Cr Cumming received an allowance of $76,521 and Cr Lam received $24,730.
In the three months between May and July this year, Maribyrnong’s seven councillors claimed $12,577 in expenses.
Deputy Mayor Sarah Carter claiming $1482.07 on mobile data, or $494 per month.
Cr Carter told the Leader her phone bill was due to international travel for her full-time job.
She said the council had purchased a Telstra travel pass which worked out to be $30 per day in eligible countries.
“I like to stay on top of local issues, emails and be at the ready to support the Mayor as required,” Cr Carter said.
REGULATIONS NOT FOLLOWED
Local Government Regulations required councils’ annual reports to contain detailed breakdowns of councillor expenses.
The expenses have to be categorised as travel, car mileage, childcare, information and communication, and conference and training expenses.
However Manningham Council has not published a breakdown of expenses in its annual report for the past five years.
When asked for a breakdown a media spokeswoman said it was not available.
Manningham councillors claimed $62,289.87 for the latest financial year.
Knox Council had also not published councillor expenses on its website or in its last two annual reports.
Knox Council spokesman Karl Liebich said: “ … It’s not always the case that councils publish data specifically relating to councillors’ expenses”.
“So it’s not necessarily unusual that you wouldn’t find these details in an annual report or on the website.”
Mr Liebich said councillor expenses had not exceeded $2000 for the latest financial year, but a breakdown or evidence of those expenses could not be provided.
EXPENSE STANDOUTS
Other council expenses that stood out was Wyndham Council, which recorded $38,310.57 in the six months between January and June this year, or $19,155 a month, between 11 councillors.
This included $12,279 on six months worth of training and conferences by Cr Peter Maynard, and $7853 by Cr Walter Villagonzalo.
Wyndham councillors claimed $42,402 in the 2016/17 financial year and were on track to exceed this figure in the latest financial year.
Casey councillors spent $75,493 in the year to June 2017, including $30,984 claimed by Mayor Aziz. This included $15,635 on a car and travel, $9065 on communications, and $6285 on training and education.
Casey governance manager Holly De Kretser said Cr Aziz was entitled to a mayoral vehicle to travel across the municipality for council business.
Cr Aziz’s training expenses went towards coaching services, professional memberships and media training.
In one year, $9065 was spent on mobile phone and internet charges, and the replacement of equipment.
In the City of Melton, Councillor Kathy Majdlik spent $16,335 on carer expenses in the year to June 2018.
Cr Majdlik said she required specialised care for her daughter, who suffered from disabilities, so she could attend council meetings.
In total, Melton councillors spent $14,424 on functions and Councillor Ken Hardy spent $7823 on conferences and training including $3804 on two local government conferences and $1109 to attend the Resilient Australia Awards.
Melton governance manager Christine Denyer said the council was committed to the providing training support for councillors.
Minister for Local Government Marlene Kairouz said in a statement: “I expect councils to keep the needs of their communities in mind when deciding what will be funded by their rates, and that includes being transparent about councillor’s expenses”.
Wyndham council was approached for comment but did not reply by deadline.
TOP FIVE COUNCIL EXPENSE CLAIMS IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD
1. PORT PHILLIP BAY — $98,750.48
2. MARIBYRNONG — $80,071
3. CASEY — $75,493
4. MELTON — $68,627
5. MANNINGHAM — $62,289.87
rachel.clayton@news.com.au • @Rachel_Clayton_
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