While there have always been people in every community who have sought election as a Councillor with a view to pursuing their own self-interest, there have likewise always been people who have also sought election as Councillors who have been motivated by a genuine desire to serve their community.
That elected Councillors are currently paid a relatively small annual fee reflects the fact that they are not employees but should, by-in-large, be motivated by a desire to perform community service.
Of course, the difficulty that this arrangement presents is that there may be many competent & highly motivated people in the community who could make an outstanding contribution as Councillors but whose personal financial circumstances preclude them from doing so. The community is arguably the poorer as a result.
At the same time, the association believes that many in the community are sceptical at suggestions that the current regime of payments for councillors should be updated or modernised.
It might come as surprise to many that
in its submission to the NSW Local Government Remuneration Tribunal in January of last year, the
Local Government Association (LGA) highlighted the increasing complexity of the role of
Councillor &
Mayor, as well as the significant amount of time allegedly required to meet their responsibilities (an average of 44.85 hours per week for regional rural councillors).
The LGA submission suggested that current payment arrangements for Councillors & Mayors effectively discouraged many women & younger people from seeking to participate in local government.
Sound familiar?
The association is disappointed with the OLG’s approach to this issue & thinks that a more positive way to approach it would have been to simply argue the merits of superannuation payments being made to all elected officials, regardless of their gender, age or any other perceived difference.
At the same time, the association supports the push by the Local Government Association for a broader discussion around the merits of reforming the current payment system for elected local government officials, not just because it might encourage more women or younger people to seek election, but because it might well encourage more competent & capable people to pursue such roles, regardless of age or gender.
Needless to say, while it accepts that not everyone would agree, the association thinks that there is merit in the argument that it would be easier to establish a genuine culture of accountability & performance management within local government if our elected representatives were equitably remunerated.
In raising the question of superannuation payments for Councillors & Mayors, the OLG wants councils to encourage residents & ratepayers to express their views.
While the association may make a submission, subject to feedback from its members, it thinks that this is an excellent opportunity for all members of the community to express their views on this important issue & encourages everyone to take the time to do so prior to the May 8th, 2020 closing date for submissions.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begvalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au