Tasmanian Industrial Commission examines allowance rises for councillors

LOCAL mayors and councillors could potentially get a big boost in their allowances as debate rages over improper spending within the local government sector.

LOCAL mayors and councillors could potentially get a big boost in their allowances as debate rages over improper spending within the local government sector.

An inquiry into their allowances has sparked debate over whether councillors and aldermen should be paid extra to attract more younger and qualified people to the state’s 29 councils, or first agree to amalgamations before getting a better deal.

The Tasmanian Industrial Commission is reviewing allowances, a decade since they were last put under the microscope, with an issues paper expected as early as this week.

It coincides with growing concerns about ratepayer dollars being wasted at various local councils.

Tasmanian Ratepayers Association president Lionel Morrell said allowances could be boosted if councils amalgamated, adding there existed a “big chasm” between allowances for councillors and mayors.

Tasmanian Ratepayers Association president Lionel Morrell.

“If we were to have amalgamations and have less councillors then there would be less people to pay and therefore we could pay them more and attract a better quality of councillor,” Mr Morrell said.

Allowances varied between councils and are set on a sliding scale depending on size.

For example, councillors from Hobart and Launceston city councils get a $35,482 allowance compared to $9106 for those elected to Central Highlands, Flinders Island, King Island and Tasman councils.

The mayors of the two biggest councils get an additional $88,706 allowance, while those on the smallest councils are allowed only an extra $22,762.

Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Katrena Stephenson said the allowances paid to councillors effectively put them on a par with volunteers.

She said many were barely compensated for the work they put into their communities.

“If we want to attract younger people and working people then maybe we need to have a look at allowances in a fresh way,” Dr Stephenson said.

Also up for discussion should be equity and parity issues between rural and urban councillors, workloads matching allowances and childcare expenses, she said.

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey.

Councillors and mayors can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses such as travel, telephone and internet usage, stationery and office supplies.

They can also be reimbursed for “the care of any person who is dependent on the councillor and who requires the care while the councillor is carrying out his or her duties or functions as a councillor”.

Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein declined to comment as he waits on the Tasmanian Industrial Commission’s report.

Public hearings into the allowances will be held at five statewide locations in January.