Leading by example
During the public submission period regarding councillors’ allowances I formally contributed a submission suggesting councillors lead by example and accept a 10 per cent reduction in these increased allowances as a matter of principle in these times of economic hardship.
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One other resident contributed a submission along much similar lines.
Dr Matthew Beard, from the Ethics Centre, makes comment of federal issues regarding entitlements (“Rorts saga not about compliance but ethics”, Bendigo Advertiser, January 20).
This is much along my lines as I outlined to council staff following last Wednesday evening’s council meeting in which I voted against the increased councillor allowances and spoke of recommending a 10 per cent reduction on the increased allowances.
I formally requested in writing forthwith a 10 per cent reduction in my councillor allowances going forward to back up my proposal. This was accepted from January 19, 2017.
This does not have anything to do with how many hours or what types of jobs a councillor performs, it’s about the principle of leading by example in tough economic times.
As a principle, I firmly believe that leading by example sets the correct format going forward for demonstrating a preparedness to exercise fiscal and financial responsibility in every aspect of future council budgets, good governance, leadership, responsible financial restraint, strong moral judgement and financial ethics to our community.
Of course, I note but believe others do not understand this principle and that should excess expenditures be confronted by a councillor that they can exercise due claims for adequate compensation for their outlays even with a 10 per cent downsizing of their current allowances.
It is no challenge, however, they all perceive they have to justify their existence when they simply don’t have to do so.
Lastly, this does not affect my ability to continue to manage each councillor, council officers and staff as I have in the past out of the strong respect I have for all these individuals.
It’s just the principle that I desire to exercise my right to make this 10 per cent reduction and sound financial judgement.
Cr George Flack, Eppalock Ward
Do not stay silent
For city councillors to claim that a remuneration of nearly $30,000 is “not excessive and should not be a surprise” is a real example of where some of our city councils are coming from.
They certainly don’t believe in “inclusive democracy” or “community quality” for residents in this much-lauded liveable city of Bendigo.
The notion that they deserve more because they are doing more and making a greater contribution to the community is a perverse doctrine of snouts in the trough.
In that respect they certainly are transparent and show little regard for pensioners and hard-working citizens.
We have at least one city councillor who has refused to take this increase and shown some sense of ethical behaviour on behalf of his constituents. He also has shown that he is not prosaic or lacking in imagination in serving his residents.
Community quality depends on residents’ efforts to prevent crime and improve local government by ensuring their efforts to render local government more responsive to community expectations are carried out .
If citizens want to change things for the better they cannot, if they remain silent and therefore remain in the minority.
Idealistic statements designed to increase their remuneration over residents’ concerns is usually associated with market fundamentalists who are very lukewarm about inclusive democracy because they have very little regard for the opinion of ordinary citizens.
