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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016
$248,000 package for Margaret Abbey
■ MURRINDINDI Shire Councillors - instructed by the State Government to limit budget increases to 2.5 per cent - have gifted Chief Executive Margaret Abbey with a whopping 10 per cent pay rise. A majority of the big-spending Councillors voted last Wednesday to increase Ms Abbey’s annual package by at least $22,000, to take it to $248,000-a-year. Ms Abbey’s pay rise was accompanied by a two-year extension to her contract
And Ms Abbey did not have to compete against any other candidates for the position. The Council, led by Mayor Cr Margaret Rae, controversially decided to by-pass the usual convention of advertising for other candidates. A loophole was used to expedite the contract. At $248,000 per year, Ms Abbey’s salary is fast approaching that of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who is paid $290,000 to lead the state. Murrindindi has one of the state’s smallest municipal populations with 41,860 people recorded at the last Census. Murrindindi Shire is regarded in local government circles as continually over-spending. Ms Abbey is considered by some as a comparatively junior local government executive to some others in the sector. Her previous job was as a “B-level” executive at Nillumbik Shire Council based at Greensborough. Her previous title there was ‘Group Manager Environment and Planning Services’. ● Yea Football Club Vice-Captain Ryan Sargeant was at the Rather than contain its financial managelaunch of the Tigers 2016 season held at Alister Borrie’s Royal ment to within the State Government’s recommended 2.5 per cent increase cap, Ms Abbey’s Mail Hotel on Friday night. Ryan is pictured with Jessica Armmanagement style sees the Council forced to strong. More pictures of the launch night on Page 2. apply to Victoria’s Essential Services Commission for a 5.4 per cent increase. The only two Councillors who appear to be fighting to stop the ongoing rate increases at Murrindindi Shire are Cr Eric Lording and Cr Chris Healy. Votes at the Council are often 5-2, with the ■ Yea political activist Jack Russell is understood to Left-leaning majority voting en bloc. The maRussell reckons he was unhave met late last week with jority Councillors are accused of being a ‘Counfairly labelled by The Yea representatives of The Yea cil-within-a-Council’ comprising Cr Margaret Chronicle as having behaved Chronicle including Alexandra Rae, Cr John Walsh, Cr John Kennedy, Cr “inappropriately”. Newspapers executive Celina Andrew Derwent and Cr Christine Challen. Last week’s issue of that Mott, manager Karen MorriThe vote for Ms Abbey’s contract extension newspaper carried a report of son and newly-appointed edi- and pay rise was taken during a secret session the Murrindindi Council of the Council, with members of the public extor Anne Richey. meeting held at Strath Creek The Local Paper under- cluded. Hall. It is understood that Cr Christine Challen prostands that Russell sought asposed that ratepayers fund an even-bigger pay The report said members of surances for an unedited right● Anne Richey, Yea the public registered disgust at Chronicle Editor, said to of-reply, said to have been rise, with an extra $2000 to make her salary “a “a man” believed to be Russell. round figure” of quarter-of-a-million dollars. granted, then overturned. have met with Russell
● Margaret Abbey, Murrindindi CEO
Irish wedding in Yea
● Father-of-the-bride Alan Luckman (back to camera) with son-in-law Eoghan Dowling and daughter Kristie at their ‘Easter Saturday’ wedding at the Luckman family home in Yea.
Activist fights paper
● Kristie Luckman is accompanied by her father Alan prior to the Irish wedding. A reception followed at Beaufort Manor. Inset: the groom.
RATEPAYERS FOOT CEO’S INTERNATIONAL, DOMESTIC TRAVEL BILL - PAGE 7