I want to express my outrage and disgust at the process that Victoria councillors engaged in to raise their remuneration as sitting council members.
I ran for election as a candidate in the 2022 election, and every candidate for city council in the last election clearly knew the stipend to be received and the time obligations required, if a candidate was successful in being elected. This was posted clearly on the city website and was not a secret to anyone.
So, now once elected, I see those of you who are now in favour of a stipend increase (while holding office) and making your arguments that, “this is a full-time job”, “I have student loans”, “this is tough on my family”, “this is tough on my career”.
These are simply whoa-is-me arguments that don’t cut it and do not hold water with me or anyone else. Having held elected office in Victoria, I know that a candidate needs to understand the obligations that go along with seeking elected office before seeking that office. If you now find that holding elected office has become too costly, to your family life, finances/career, or you are spending too much time in exercising your elected responsibility, the correct action is to resign, and the public can then have an opportunity to elect a representative who understands the obligations that are required to hold office and can meet those requirements.
These members are clearly at council representing their own interest and featherbedding themselves. The process undertaken by council is wholly inappropriate, and is carried out without public discussion, input or consent – a process that council members support by self-aggrandizing their worth.
Councillors all knew the remuneration and requirements attached to being elected when they ran for office. They should be ashamed. If they had any integrity they should reverse their decision.
Steve Orcherton
Victoria