Queensland mayors and councillors outside of Brisbane have been awarded pay rises worth thousands of dollars that will kick off from next financial year.
The Local Government Remuneration Commission handed down its annual report last week, granting salary increases of between 3.25 per cent and 4.5 per cent.
The smaller 3.25 per cent pay rise will apply to mayors and councillors in 32 local government areas that include the state’s biggest councils.
This includes the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Townsville, Toowoomba, Redland, Mackay, Cairns, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg councils.
Under the changes, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who leads Queensland’s second-biggest council, will be eligible for a salary of $295,542 — up from $286,239.
The salary for Gold Coast councillors will increase from $170,819 to $176,371.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli will get a raise to $266,942 next financial year. (ABC News: Amy Sheehan)
In Moreton Bay, Mayor Peter Flannery has been awarded a salary of $266,942, which is an increase from $258,539.
Logan Mayor Jon Raven and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli have also been granted the same pay rise as Mr Flannery.
Councillors in Moreton Bay, Logan and the Sunshine Coast will be eligible for salaries of $162,072 — up from $156,970.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding and Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto will also see their recommended salaries climb from $230,836 to $238,338.
Newly elected Townsville mayor Nick Dametto’s salary will climb from $230,836 to $238,338. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden and Redlands Mayor Jos Mitchell will be entitled to salaries of $209,739, which is an increase from $203,137.
The bigger 4.5 per cent pay rises awarded by the commission apply to 44 councils that include the state’s smallest local governments.
The mayors of 33 councils, including Winton, Quilpie, Bulloo, Wujal Wujal, Aurukun and Cloncurry, will see their recommended salaries increase from $122,975 to $128,509.
Mayors in another 11 council areas, including Goondiwindi, Balonne, Douglas, Longreach and Cook, will see their pay rise from $124,157 to $129,744.
Response to ‘challenging’ environment
In making its decision, the remuneration commission said it considered the “importance” of maintaining financially sustainable and fiscally responsible wage growth.
It also said it took into account the “recently challenging and unstable inflationary environment”.
Another factor it considered was the disparity in pay for mayors and councillors in smaller rural, regional and remote areas compared to larger metropolitan locations.
It also noted anecdotal evidence of a desire to attract and retain high-quality candidates to local government roles, particularly in regional and remote areas.
Queensland mayors get pay rise
Another point it indicated it considered was whether councils could afford the pay rises.
The commission is not responsible for assessing the pay of the Brisbane lord mayor or the city’s councillors.
Last year, the commission awarded pay increases of between 2.5 per cent and 3 per cent.
Brisbane’s most recent inflation rate was 5.2 per cent in the 12 months to October.
The base salary of a state MP in Queensland is $189,505, while ministers and the opposition leader are paid $390,278 and the premier is paid $476,323.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Local Government Department said the pay increases proposed by the commission would be automatically applied.
“However, if a council chooses to set a lesser amount, it must pass a resolution to that effect before 1 July 2026,” the spokesperson said.
“If this resolution is not passed, the maximum increase determined by the commission will automatically apply.
“While superannuation does not form part of the commission’s recommendation, normal rules for the payment of super to employees will apply.”