It’s a question of what we pay them

“YOU don’t put your hand up to be a councillor for the money!”

So said Deputy Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Rochelle Halstead, at last week’s council meeting.

However, the $160,000 paid to the Mayor Cr Michael Whelan, for the period from November 9, 2020 to March 31, 2023 isn’t peanuts either.

Regular councillors including Crs Kent, Le Serve, Rooks, Larke and Bauer have received $70,066.77 in remuneration for the same period.

In a statement at the start of last week’s council meeting, Cr Halstead went on to say that the issue of how much councillors are paid has “been widely debated in the community”.

But has it really been widely debated? You certainly don’t hear people talking about it at the footy or over coffee at the local community market.

But last month, Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association spokesperson, Kevin Griffin posed a question to the council about reported professional development costs to March 31 totalling $40,167.97.

“Will Council now please provide itemised details of all professional development costs for each Councillor?” Mr Griffin asked.

Seems a fair question.

The council provided a full response in the Minutes of the June 21, 2023 council meeting revealing that among other things, two councillors had undertaken the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course costing around $10,000 for five days, those being Cr David Rooks and Cr Brett Tessari, the former mayor.

Cr Halstead, revealed that she will also be doing the AICD course.

Cr Halstead made the case for this sort of support for councillors:

“As we all know, councillors are responsible for a budget in excess of $100 million and for setting the direction of this large organisation that is to deliver on that.”