Yule Lobbies for Professional Politicians, Ignores Ratepayers

3 MAY 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union says the Local Government NZ head, Lawrence Yule, is showing his true colours in lobbying for the interests of professional politicians to the detriment of ratepayers and those who pay him. Responding to Mr Yule’s support of the Remuneration Authority’s decision to boost the remuneration of mayors and councillors by 1-3% this year, Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:

“If you are motivated to stand for a council on the basis of the pay, you shouldn’t be standing at all. Once again it appears the Remuneration Authority has ignored the public service element of being an elected representative.”

“The fact our most skilled professionals are no longer standing for local councils has little to do with the amount councillors and mayors are paid. In the space of a generation, representative democracy has been replaced by consultative democracy. Mr Yule is arguing councillors should become expensive civil servants.”

“If the Remuneration Authority really wanted to pay market rates, they should determine that elected representative are paid in line with previous earnings. That way the professionals, rather than professional politicians, would consider standing.”

“You can’t tell me that Helene Ritchie, who was first elected onto the Wellington Council in 1977, is still there for the love and not the money. Mr Yule should be focused on ensuring ratepayers are getting value for money, not using a ratepayer funded lobby organisation to try and justify higher pay for his mayoral colleagues."

ENDS

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