Councillor allowances
Mayors, deputy mayors and councillors are entitled to receive an allowance while performing their role as an elected official. Allowances are set by the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
Separate allowances are paid to mayors, deputy mayors and the other councillors of the council. Councils are grouped into three categories for allowance purposes based on their income and population. Allowances are adjusted annually by the Tribunal.
Council members can individually elect to receive either the full allowance to which they are entitled, part of the allowance or no allowance at all.
Details of the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal’s most recent determination of allowances, including amounts and council categories, can be found on the Tribunal’s website.
The Tribunal must conduct a review of the allowance framework and make a new determination after each second council general election, unless the Minister for Local Government requests a review and determination at another time.
Expenses
Councillors are entitled to be reimbursed for any necessary out-of-pocket expenses they incur while performing their duties as a councillor. Councils are also required to adopt and maintain a policy in relation to the reimbursement of councillor expenses.
Councils are also required to publish in their annual report the details of the expenses paid to councillors.