Inner West councillors have voted to give themselves a two per cent pay rise.
Liberal Councillor for Ashfield, Julie Passas, is one of the Inner West Council (IWC) councillors who agreed that their annual salaries should grow by 2 per cent in a vote delivered to the council.
““I did not feel I could vote against it because I get back to all residents and work hard,” Passes said.
“I have not stopped, I don’t feel guilty taking a pay rise.”
“I don’t feel guilty one bit but I feel justified because I work 24/7 not just in my ward, but I assist other people from other wards too.”
Councillors voted in favour of cutting back their meetings to once a month earlier this year, despite dozens of agenda items being carried over after meetings, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The Local Government Tribunal recommended they be paid the maximum rate of $31,020.
A report handed to council agreed that the pay rise was justified and reported that councillors in other Sydney jurisdictions are arguing for a similar pay increase of over 2.5%.
The vote was delivered while millions of Australians have had work cut due to current COVID-19 lockdowns.
Liberal Councillor Julie Passas has been described by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Campbell as a “well-known stirrer”.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
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