A former western suburbs mayor has called for a cap to be placed on the amount of paid leave made available to councillors.
Point Cook resident and former Sunshine mayor Bernard Reilly believes councillors should be limited to two to four weeks of paid leave each year.
His comments come after it was revealed three Wyndham councillors have taken the equivalent of six months’ paid leave in the past year. The Local Government Act does not restrict the amount of paid leave that councillors can take.
Mr Reilly said that in other jobs employees were given a limited amount of paid leave, and councillors should face the same restrictions.
“There needs to be a change to the act to make them accountable for how much leave they take. We need a change,” he said. “If they need more time off, they shouldn’t be paid.”
Point Cook Action Group president Paul Harder said councillors should be required to attend a minimum number of council meetings and they should stand down if they failed to meet the criteria.
Mr Harder called for the publication of a report card on councillor attendance and achievements ahead of council elections.
A spokesman for Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell deferred questions about a cap on paid leave to the Transport, Planning and Local Government Department.
A department spokeswoman said councillors could seek permission for a leave of absence and would only lose office if they missed four consecutive council meetings without permission. “Councillors do not receive a salary, and allowances are some recognition of the contributions made by those elected to voluntary, part-time roles in the community.”
