Bellingen Shire deputy mayor resigns, citing low pay for councillorsBy Toby HemmingsABC Coffs CoastTopic:Local Government49m ago49 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:42amEllie Tree (centre) was the youngest councillor ever in Bellingen Shire when first elected in 2021. (Supplied: Bellingen Shire Council)In short:The deputy mayor of the Bellingen Shire Council has resigned.Ellie Tree says she had to take leave without pay from her full-time job to attend council meetings.What's next?The president of the peak body for councils in NSW says better pay and conditions are needed to encourage and retain younger women in local government.abc.net.au/news/bellingen-deputy-mayor-ellie-tree-resigns/105267438Link copiedShareShare articleA 31-year-old deputy mayor and mother of three has resigned from her regional council claiming it was costing her money to represent her community.Ellie Tree announced she was stepping down from Bellingen Shire Council on the New South Wales Mid North Coast after a three-month leave of absence.She said she was unable to balance the workload between family, full-time employment and postgraduate study."Unfortunately council pays the least and takes up the most of my time," Cr Tree said."People that step into the role aren't doing it for the money, it's a passion."I was having to take days of leave without pay to attend council meetings and it ended up costing me money to be a councillor."'Sad indictment of local government'Women under 40 make up only 6 per cent of councillors according to the latest report on councillor diversity from the NSW Office of Local Government.In NSW, councillors are paid an annual fee instead of a salary, which is determined by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.While mayors in cities can earn six-figure salaries, councillors earn as little as $10,220.Cr Tree told the ABC she was paid $18,000 per year for her work on the Bellingen council.Cr Tree's children would often accompany her to council events. (Supplied: Bellingen Shire Council)After being re-elected in 2024, Cr Tree unsuccessfully pushed to change the time of council meetings from 9:45am to sometime in the evening."When you're in a position such as mine where you need to take days off your full-time job to attend meetings, [the pay] dwindled down to about $6,000 a year in your back pocket," Cr Tree said.Bellingen Mayor Steve Allan said Cr Tree had made a huge contribution to the local community and it was disappointing she had to resign."It's a very difficult ask of a young, working mother to be able to fulfil the role of councillor while working full-time and looking after a family," Cr Allan said."It's a sad indictment on the structure of local government in NSW."Barriers to participationAs more women than ever enter politics at the federal level, structural barriers like low pay remain for those looking to cut their teeth in local politics in NSW.According to analysis from the Australian Local Government Women's Association, women's representation on councils across Australia has grown to 40 per cent.Local Government NSW president Phyllis Miller said despite the improved representation, the poor pay and heavy workload for councillors meant mostly older, semi-retired people were putting their hands up to be involved."If we don't start to change the fee structure, we're going to end up with people at retirement age being the only people who can afford to stand for local government," Cr Miller said.Phyllis Miller. (Supplied)Cr Miller said Local Government NSW was continuing to lobby the state government for increased funding and support for councillors."We go to the remuneration tribunal every year and we get nothing," she said."In Queensland, you get 85 per cent of a backbencher's salary, so the councillors would be on $70,000-80,000 a year."I don't think politicians realise our workload is every bit as big as theirs."Cr Tree, who was the youngest councillor in Bellingen Shire's history when she was elected in 2021, said despite her resignation she hoped to stay engaged in the community."Right now, I just think my time is better off spent with my kids and focusing on my full-time employment," she said."Will I run again? Maybe when I'm old and semi-retired."Posted 49m ago49 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:42am, updated 9m ago9 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:22amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesPM tells caucus to maintain 'laser-like' focus on voters, as dumped minister Ed Husic a no-showLIVEPhoto shows Anthony Albanese with two fists in the air.Australia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Sussan LeyErin Patterson took son on hour long drive despite feeling sick, murder trial hearsLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtAn energy giant 'drained' this householder's batteryTopic:Energy IndustryPhoto shows Man wearing baseball cap and khaki green t-shirt standing next to household Tesla batteryIn 10 minutes, Pope Leo XIV told us a lot about himself, and his agendaTopic:Religious LeadersPhoto shows Newly elected Pope Leo XIV looks up when appears on the balcony at the VaticanRelated storiesIt can be tough being a woman in politics, but former MP Paula Wriedt says she's enjoying being back in public lifeTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Paula Wriedt stands in front of an oval holding a large concept planGen Z who devoured 18 democracy sausages at state election wins council seat five years laterTopic:Local GovernmentPhoto shows a teenage boy in a white t-shirt eats a sausage on white breadVictoria fails to reach goal of gender parity on councils ahead of 2025 deadlineTopic:Local GovernmentPhoto shows Mildura's five women councillors pictured in front of a red brick wall.Related topicsBellingenLocal GovernmentSydneyWages and BenefitsWomenWorkTop StoriesPM tells caucus to maintain 'laser-like' focus on voters, as dumped minister Ed Husic a no-showTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese with two fists in the air.Australia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbErin Patterson took son on hour long drive despite feeling sick, murder trial hearsTopic:Law, Crime and JusticeAn energy giant 'drained' this householder's batteryTopic:Energy IndustryIn 10 minutes, Pope Leo XIV told us a lot about himself, and his agendaTopic:Religious LeadersJust InChina criticises Australia over joint exercises in South China SeaTopic:Defence and National Security7m ago7 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:24amHow this understated Aussie's 'unreal' level could upset the Giro favouritesTopic:Road Cycle Racing13m ago13 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:18amDiddy sex trafficking trial closes in on jury selectionTopic:Arts, Culture and Entertainment19m ago19 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:12amGetting through Mother's Day if you're struggling with infertilityTopic:Fertility and Infertility34m ago34 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:57amMore Just InBack to top