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Wednesday 22 July 2020
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Bus operators need assistance to stay on road
Rough road ahead: Bus tour operators Bernie and Chris O’Shannessy fear for the future of their industry. Picture: Yanni
A SIX-MONTH extension of the JobKeeper subsidy is “absolutely imperative for the survival of coach tour companies – a vital part of the Mornington Peninsula’s tourism industry”. Chris O’Shannessy, of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours, based at Rye, said the tourism industry was “not alone in bearing the brunt of the economic crisis this pandemic has caused. But I would say without a doubt it is, along with the hospitality industry, one of the hardest hit. “Our two industries work hand in glove in support of each other.” Mr O’Shannessy said coach touring brought visitors to small, out-of-the-way towns, provided revenue for hospitality businesses, and made holidays possible for those with physical or mobility issues, or who could no longer drive themselves. “This is an entire industry that may close down completely, without a long term future strategy that includes ongoing support,” he said. “Our future survival lies in the hands of our government.” Mr O’Shannessy said his 35-year-old bus touring company was well known on the peninsula. The “mum-and-dad” company employs local people in the office, as well as tour directors from around the country. “We completed over 100 tours last year and brought fun and joy to the lives of many Australians, particularly seniors. “In March our operations were reduced dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our business has been in complete hibernation ever since.” Mr O’Shannessy stressed he was “not whingeing”. “We understand why it’s not pertinent to be on the road and we don’t expect to be so for a while, but we do need support for the longer term.” Stephen Taylor
Move to curb CEO’s ‘bonus’ powers Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors want the state government to rein in the power of municipal chief executive officers to prevent bonuses being secretly given to staff. Under the current rules CEOs can grant bonuses to staff without telling councillors, residents or ratepayers. Council CEOs are the only council officers appointed and controlled by councillors. All other council staff are under the jurisdiction of the CEO. Cr David Gill told The News that the shire’s current CEO, John Baker, had not awarded any bonuses to staff.
However, a previous CEO who he declined to name, had provided bonuses to individual officers “of $40,000 and up to $60,000”. The 2019/20 budget shows staff costs comprise $82.1 million of the shire’s total expenses of $191.7m. “We all have the right to know how our rates and any other income is spent,” Cr Gill said. “A former CEO of the shire has apparently been able to pay huge bonuses without the knowledge of council. “I believe that the council of the time set up a mechanism to prevent bonus payments being paid without their knowledge, but that was seemingly ignored.”
Councillors at the 14 July meeting (held online) agreed with Cr Gill that the Local Government Minister Shaun Leane be asked to “review … the situation where chief executive officers of municipalities in Victoria have extraordinary powers to give confidential large yearly bonuses to selected staff … and is apparently entirely at their sole discretion”. Mr Leane was appointed local government minister in June following the sacking by the Premier Daniel Andrews of Adem Somyurek amid allegations of branch stacking and offensive language. The request was also made to Local Government Victoria and Victorian
Auditor-General’s Office and listed for adoption by other councils at the next state conference of the Municipal Association of Victoria. The shire’s letter to the minister will state that the powers given by the government to CEOs “lacks transparency and accountability and creates apprehension of outcomes that may not be in the community interest”. Comments made on the agenda by an unnamed officer said there were “mechanisms” already built into the system to stop the CEO telling council if any bonuses had been granted. “Therefore, it is the officer position that such oversight does not require any legislative or state policy change,
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with mechanisms to address the concerns raised presently available within the existing legislative and policy framework,” the unnamed officer stated.” The officer stated that council could ask to be told about any performancebased bonuses and if they had been appropriately assessed. The officer then stated that “council officers will be seeking clarity regarding what points of advocacy are to be raised and specifically what changes are sought” if councillors asked Mr Leane to curb the powers of CEOs. Councillors voted unanimously to approach Mr Leane, the auditor general and other municipalities.