Anger over huge wages of Victorian council chiefs

It’s been revealed the CEO of the City of Melbourne is earning more than $500,000 a year, which has sparked fierce backlash online.

It’s prompted calls from Tom Elliott for the number of councils in Victoria to be slashed from almost 80 to fewer than 10.

He pointed at the Brisbane council covering all of the urban area of Brisbane, not just the CBD.

Verity Webb, spokesperson for Ratepayers Victoria, said there was no doubt many council officials were earning too much.

But she said there was no point trying to follow Queensland’s lead.

“All of our councils run under the Local Government Act and the Local Government Act is set by the state government,” she said.

“I don’t think there is any point making comparisons between the Brisbane City Council and here, because they’re governed by the state acts of Queensland and we are not.

She said cutting the number of councils would not automatically make things better.

Press PLAY below to hear her explain why