Councillors paid $5000 for nothing

Andrew Mathieson and Alex de Vos
Ratepayers have paid two Geelong councillors nearly $5000 each since they abandoned council duties earlier this year.
David Saunderson and Cameron Granger will continue receiving their councillors’ “allowance” of about $26,000 a year until they return to work.
Both councillors chose to take a leave of absence rather than quit their northern suburbs wards after being charged with failing to disclose a conflict of interest
Cr Granger was fined $1000 without a conviction in court on Wednesday over failing to leave council chambers during a vote on developer Jaemax’s plans earlier this year.
Cr Saunderson is set to face court next month on the same charge.
The pair had received donations from Lascorp during the 2004 council elections but claimed they were not aware it was the same company as Jaemax.
Cr Granger defended the decision not resign and accept the money.
“I was still entitled to keep my allowance,” he told the Independent.
“I understand it was a serious matter – that’s why I stood down as councillor.”
Under changes to the Local Government Act, councillors who fail to disclose conflict of interests can be fined $11,342 and face a seven-year ban from sitting on council.
Council finance portfolio-holder Andrew Katos said councillors should not take leave of absence while waiting to answer allegations of wrongdoings.
“Leave of absence is designed for someone who is ill or going away on a short holiday – that’s really the purpose,” Cr Katos said.
He was angry his colleagues were still receiving their allowances without contributing to council.
“They have had no portfolio, they’re not attending meetings or briefings and they’re not on committees,” he said.
The councillors have earned $4769.72 from their leave of absence for the past 66 days since June 9.
They were last paid $6594.50 “in advance” at the end of June, Cr Katos said.
Cr Granger, who works in the office of Member for Lara John Eren, also faces having to choose between his councillor and electorate officer roles, with pending state laws set to prohibit councillors working for MPs.
Cr Saunderson has resigned from his job in the office of federal Corio MP Richard Marles.
Cr Katos said his colleagues must “either put up or shut up”.
“You can’t keep taking council money and not doing anything,” he said.
A City spokesperson told the Independent council had no powers to withhold the allowance.
Cr Saunderson had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.