Restraint? That’s rich

Peter Farago
IT’S great to see that Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is “happy” to knock back a pay rise as an example of wage restraint while the Reserve Bank tries to curb inflation.
Of course she would – she’s on an enormous salary with a massive parliamentary superannuation scheme well above community standard to boot.
But ask ordinary Geelong residents to exercise the same “restraint” and no doubt they’d tell Julia to go jump.
They’re not happy, Julia.
The Commonwealth Bank immediately passed on another increase in official interest rates this week, making life harder for thousands of mortgagees.
In fact, it’s probably the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many who can no longer cope with huge debts.
Many of these people probably voted for Ms Gillard in her mortgage-belt Werribee, Point Cook-based Lalor electorate.
So why wouldn’t ordinary Geelong residents want a little more in their weekly pay packets?
They’d think “Stuff the good of the country, I’ve got to feed my kids tonight”.
The Labor Government’s honeymoon is coming to an abrupt end as financial issues transpire to make life difficult for KRudd and the gang.
Rising interest rates pile pressure onto families, while Wayne Swan still hasn’t been able to find that big stick to whack down petrol prices.
As the cost of living increases, of course there’s going to be more pressure on wages.
So pious talk of showing wage restraint will be as well received by punters at the pub as Kevin Rudd’s 2020 summit asking for ideas for the future of Australia has been so far.
It’s all symbolism and counts for nothing to ordinary punters.
Talking about restraint, it seems City of Greater Geelong doesn’t know the meaning of the word.
In its submission to an inquiry on renumeration for councillors, City of Greater Geelong has put its hand out – and then some.
City Hall wants to pay the mayor almost $93,000.
Yep, that’s right. $93,000.
And $28,000 for ordinary councillors.
That would bring the total bill for Geelong’s council to about $400,000 a year.
For what?
Do our civic leaders really do enough to earn that kind of dough?
Most would think not but City of Greater Geelong wants councillors’ allowances to be linked to MPs’ salaries.
Most ratepayers think councils are there for two things – to collect the garbage and fix potholes – and they seldom get both right at the same time.
Of course, there’s more to it than that.
But so much more that the mayor should earn an almost-six-figure salary?
While public opinion says MPs are already overpaid, they at least have to make decisions in the national interest, like the defence of the country.
And our councillors, well, they pass the buck on almost every controversial planning decision, sending it straight to State Government to decide.
That’s earning your keep?