Whistlin’ Dickson pulls in $600k
GOLD Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson is earning more than the Prime Minister with his salary growing to more than $600,000 despite failing on his key goal to cut the council’s payroll.
A draft of the Gold Coast City Council’s annual report 2017-18 confirms Mr Dickson’s salary has jumped to the $600,001-$700,000 bracket. The PM earns $527,852.
The Bulletin understands the contract can have a built-in allowance, up to $40,000 and non-taxable, which can cover new clothes, dry cleaning and meals at functions.
In August last year Mr Dickson’s position looked precarious unless he came up with a plan to cull council staff.
His reform “road map” after negotiations with Mayor Tom Tate saw him secure a new three-year deal.
The draft annual report shows the council’s directorates currently employ 3419 permanent staffers and 450 temporary employees, with the turnover decreasing by 2 per cent compared to 2016-17.
During 2017-18 37 permanent positions closed and almost 59 approved to be created, with the net increase just above 21 FTE positions.
Mr Dickson yesterday declined to provide details of his salary, how it had increased and whether his contract covers weekly expenses.
Mr Dickson said it was “utterly incorrect” that he had to come up with a plan to cull jobs to save his own. “Further, there is no key performance indicator (KPI) in my contract requiring a culling of staff positions,” he said.
Gold Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association president Tom Bleier told the Bulletin the salary was “obscene”.
“This Mayor, when he became mayor for the first time, promised to bring this person under control,” Mr Bleier said.
“He made campaign promises. He was looking at firing him. Then they obviously had negotiations through the Mayor’s first term.
“His salary should be lowered and any increases should be based on performance.”
Cr Tate yesterday took aim at Mr Bleier, accusing him of “misquoting me”.
“The 2012 mayoral elections had seven candidates. The other six were adamant they would dismiss the CEO immediately, if elected,” Cr Tate said. “I publicly stated that I would take the first six months to assess if we could work together. It’s called a fairgo policy.
“My focus ... has been lower rates, lower debt and valuefor-money. The only runaway train in this city is the light rail and it’s also a huge success.’’