By Staff Writer
An increase in councillor’s salaries is unlikely to lead to a rate hike, the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has said.
LGAQ spokesman Greg Hallam said there would not be any impact on council budgets despite a recommended 3 per cent pay rise for Queensland’s councils.
"Local government-elected members’ pay – across the entire length of Queensland, the full 73 councils – account for one-tenth of 1 per cent of total local government outlay, so it is minuscule and doesn’t have any impact on rates or services," he said.
The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal (LGRT) recommended a 3 per cent pay rise from January 1 for Queensland councillors and it is now up to councils to decide if they will introduce it.
Mr Hallam defended the 3 per cent pay rise as modest.
"This is the first increase elected members as a group have had in three years – 3 per cent over three years is modest in anyone’s terms," he said.
The Burke Shire Deputy Mayor, Ernie Camp, in Queensland’s Gulf country, said the pay rise was warranted as representatives from smaller councils perform their duty as a community service.
"I suppose it has been a long time coming in a sense – we have seen other increases in other rates of pay – why should we be excluded?" he said.
"But it certainly will be welcome by some."
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