City’s cash, not theirs

Plenty of online readers are siding with the State Government position on the question: Should sacked Geelong councillors have to return their advanced councillor allowances?

By all means, it’s taxpayers’ money. Ruth Cervenka

Absolutely. Wendy Ruby

Bloody oath they should. Why should they get something for nothing? Andrea Jones

Why were they paid in advance? Barbara Lampard

Yes, stupid to have to ask. That’s ratepayers’ money. June Ingram Levens

Of course. Allowances shouldn’t have been paid in advance in the first place. Michelle Smith

Hell yes, but it will be blood out of a stone to get it back. Marree Clark

Too right. Geoff Dridan

I’ve paid it directly to the ratepayer through a community organisation. I don’t believe one cent of that money would even be seen by the community but now it is. (Ex-councillor) Kylie Fisher

It wasn’t yours to give away. No matter how good the charity it was not your money to give away. Brian Kenneally

Yes they should as it's the ratepayers’ money that goes into their pockets. Jason Walder

Of course. Ornella Zampatti

Don’t blame the councillors, blame the Government. Mick Billy Billman

Yes, if they are found guilty of any misuse of funds or any other thing. Lyn Ward

Hell yes. Bec Martin

Yes they should. Peter Watson

Yes of course, but only the portion that was overpaid. Willem Schuitman

Absolutely! And if they’ve squandered it all away, it should be repaid out of their own pockets. Annie Gleeson

No they shouldn't. Kylie Fisher is a top lady and she was a great councillor. Matthew Field

Some of these councillors were sacked for no reason. It’s not fair to blame them for sins of others. They are not thieves. Gorge G Camorra

Absolutely they should. Anton Mayer

Yes. Pauline Rees