AROUND this time next year, late March of 2024, the Fraser Coast will once again go to the polls to elect its local government for the following four years.
Unlike many of us, our councillors only have to front up for a performance review every four years and the arbitrators of their future employment are you, the voting public.
Our councillors fall into Category 4, which is a cute way of saying that each will be getting paid a tick over $96,000 a year after the next election. The Deputy Mayor will pocket close to $110,000 and the Mayor a little over $165,000.
Before I get a hundred screaming emails about those salaries, it is important to note that these remuneration levels are set by the local government remuneration commission.
I personally believe that the majority of our councillors are hard-working people, who do the very best they can.
There are always a few disappointments though, and you have to shake your head at the fake email creators and the social media conspiracy posters, who haven’t had the dignity to give it away.
That’s a discussion for closer to polling day.
Blaming the Council and Councillors is practically a cottage industry in Hervey Bay, and in my opinion, it’s largely unjustified.
They get it right, the majority of the time.
The view is always easier from the bleachers, but if you want to change the game, you have to get on the field.
Nominate to run, if you think you can do better. It’s a democracy after all.
Candidates must complete mandatory ‘So you want to be a councillor’ election training no more than six months before nominating for the election, even if you have completed the training before.
You go to the Electoral Commission Queensland website to do this.
Net migration of professionals into Hervey Bay since the last election has been huge and I’m hedging it won’t be the two-horse race in most divisions, as it was four years ago.
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