Council CEO Salaries

The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for Local Government, regarding council CEO salaries.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: The Remuneration Tribunal of South Australia recently announced new minimum and maximum remuneration packages for council CEOs. CEOs' maximum remuneration packages were cut at some councils, while other councils, such as Adelaide Onkaparinga, Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield, will be allowed to pay their CEOs more.

Adelaide City Council requested an increase to the maximum pay limit for its CEO to $500,000, which is significantly more than our Premier gets paid. The tribunal only agreed to increase the maximum to $458,557. My questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for Local Government, are:

1. Amid a cost-of-living crisis would the government consider amendments to the Remuneration Act 1990 in order to address community concerns about these remuneration packages?

2. Does the government hold firm to their previous response that these pay increases are necessary in order to attract talent to these positions and therefore that the government believes anyone willing to work for less than, for example, the $458,000 of the Adelaide City Council CEO would not have the talent to be the council CEO?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for her question. I will refer it to the minister in the other place and bring back a response.