Victorian mayors’ pay to be decided by outside tribunal

VICTORIAN mayors will have their allowances set by an independent tribunal amid the revelation dozens are on $100,000-plus annual packages.

Former Moreland mayor Cr Oscar Yildiz.

VICTORIAN mayors will have their allowances set by an independent tribunal amid the revelation dozens are on $100,000-plus annual packages.

The state government currently sets maximum allowances for mayors according to council size, with councillors usually voting to accept the maximum figure.

This is now $94,641 plus 9.5 per cent superannuation for mayors in top-tier, category 3 councils such as Boroondara, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whittlesea, Hume and Moreland.

Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said the government would move to have mayoral and councillor allowances set by an independent remuneration tribunal. Picture: Sarah Matray

The City of Melbourne, as a capital city council, has a different pay structure.

Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said the government would move to have mayoral and councillor allowances set by an independent remuneration tribunal.

“I believe that councillors and mayors, just like members of parliament, shouldn’t set their own salary,” she said.

The tribunal will take into account factors including the irregular hours of mayors and councillors, that the roles are largely on call, and the volume of council and community meetings.

Last week, former Moreland mayor Cr Oscar Yildiz said that paying category 3 mayors more than $100,000 was warranted as long as they worked hard.

Cr Yildiz said the problem was there was no proper accountability by mayors for their performance.

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