All councillors in Victoria are entitled to be reimbursed for some out-of-pocket expenses they incur while performing their duties as a councillor.
In the last financial year councillors in the City of Port Phillip have claimed expenses relating to professional development and training, travel, communication and child and family care.
Allowances mean that people with families can participate, not just those with partners willing to sacrifice their careers or people that can afford to put their children into care. Providing opportunities to a cross-section of the community is vital and helps to prevent the unhealthy lack of diversity we witness at other levels of government.
As councillor duties often occur outside of regular business hours and for undefined lengths of time, private babysitting is an option provided under our policy. All claims made at the City of Port Phillip must comply with the Councillor Support and Expense Reimbursement Policy and are checked for veracity by a council offer. No claims outside of this policy have been approved and any suggestion that City of Port Phillip councillors have made inappropriate claims are unsubstantiated.
