Councillors vote against recommended new pay levels
Date published: 27 January 2016
Townsville Councillors have voted against a higher pay scale determined by the State’s independent remuneration authority.
Councillors voted to retain the current level of pay with a CPI increase from July this year instead of the new, higher schedule recommended by the Local Government Remuneration and Discipline Tribunal.
The decision comes after the tribunal in a report in December lifted Townsville to a Category 6 council on a par with Ipswich, with a higher level of maximum pay.
Mayor Cr Jenny Hill today strongly opposed going to the new schedule of remuneration saying that anything more than a CPI increase couldn’t be supported in the community.
“Our community is in difficult and uncertain times, and as civic representatives we must show restraint, leadership and responsibility on the issue of remuneration,” Cr Hill said.
“While the tribunal is independent in its determinations and Townsville is now deservedly classified alongside Ipswich, anything more than a CPI increase in remuneration simply cannot be justified.
“The tribunal’s classifications will take effect from July and will apply to the next council, but it’s important that we state to the community our intentions now to provide some surety to the community.
“I’m pleased that the mayoral minute I presented to council opposing any substantial pay increase received unanimous support from councillors.”
The tribunal’s report is available at http://www.dilgp.qld.gov.au/resources/report/local-government/remuneration-discipline-tribunal-report-2015.pdf
The council will notify the tribunal of today’s decision.
