Country councillors resign as they struggle to balance role with full-time jobs
Low pay and growing workloads may be forcing country councillors out of the job, as they struggle to balance the demands of being a politician while working full-time elsewhere.
The responsibilities of councillors vary across the country, with the scope changing with the size and population of their communities.
South-west Queensland farmer and outgoing Balonne Shire councillor Jason Southern handed in his immediate resignation on May 20, saying he had too much work to do outside of the council to continue in the job.
"I really feel like the role of a councillor needs a solid commitment of time and effort," he said.
"And the reality is that my business commitments are stretching me too thin to give the role all that it deserves at this point."
The council, 600 kilometres from Brisbane, will now hold a by-election to find a new councillor.
Balonne Mayor Samantha O'Toole said she understood Mr Southern's decision to resign, and she urged anyone running for council to really consider the commitment it required.
"Years ago, councillors were often just in the office one day a month and for a council meeting, but now it's often multiple days," she said.
"It does take a considerable amount of time, but unfortunately the pay doesn't compensate you for the time fully.
"It is really considered a civic duty or a volunteering position and that is a challenge for people because you can't necessarily leave a full-time job."
Former Quilpie mayor Stuart Mackenzie OAM spent more than two decades in local government.
He said the role of councillor had changed a lot in the almost 30 years since he was first elected.
"When I started [in 1997], we used to get paid $120-a-meeting fee and that was it," he said.
In July, the pay packets of Queensland councillors will increase across the state, ranging from $61,486 a year for smaller regions, like Barcoo, to $170,819 for councillors on the Gold Coast.
Ms O'Toole said councillors should ideally be paid a liveable wage to compensate them for the time they dedicate to the job.
But she said it was not possible in smaller communities like Balonne, where councillors salaries would rise to just over $62,000 a year.
"The easy argument would be, 'Let's increase their remuneration to actually compensate people for the time that they contribute,'" she said.
"But then that actually comes from our ratepayers.
"For those councils like ours that have a low-rate base, you have to be really mindful that you know every dollar that we spend comes from homes.
"I don't know if there's an easy answer in it but it is something that we really are challenged by in rural and remote areas."
However, Mr Mackenzie said he did not think the role should be considered a full-time job regardless of the size of the council.
"There's a lot of people who get in on councils now that don't actually have a lot of life experience and they're just wanting to be a councillor,' he said.
"As mayor, I wanted councillors to keep doing their normal day job because I thought it was the best way to stay involved with the community and consult the community.
"It's becoming a full-time job and they're creating more and more work for councillors to do but I don't know if they actually achieve any more."
Former Balonne councillor Rod Avery decided not to run for re-election in 2024 because, like Mr Southern, he faced mounting business commitments.
"There's a balancing act there, especially for those of us [who are the] main principal of your business," he said.
"If you're a sole sort of trader, it gets a bit hard but you know you can at certain times balance what's going on."
Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith said the role of a councillor could be very rewarding, but it came at a cost.
"Councils and councillors are critical to successful, liveable communities," she said.
"It is a huge job that can take a toll on councillors and their families as well as impact their livelihoods and businesses, but one that we all need to continue to attract the best possible candidates to put their hands up for their local communities."
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