The nine Sydney councils where the CEOs are paid more than $500,000

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Chief executives and general managers at Sydney councils took home on average more than $480,000 a year and more than four in five bosses were paid more than NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Nine out of 34 Sydney councils paid their chief executives more than $500,000. Minns takes home $431,540 a year. Senior ministers are paid $344,729 and MPs are paid $178,616.

Analysis of remuneration figures from councils’ 2024-25 annual reports reveals the median pay package for general managers was about $464,000, including base salary, superannuation, fringe benefits tax and non-cash benefits.

Liverpool Council, which was entangled in an Office of Local Government public inquiry into its alleged dysfunction and maladministration, paid chief executive Jason Breton $591,533 in 2024-25, the highest remuneration of all Sydney councils.

Gail Connolly, Parramatta Council’s recently sacked chief executive, was paid more than $540,000, and City of Sydney boss Monica Barone was paid just shy of $550,000.

Chief executives at smaller councils such as Hunters Hill were paid $380,000, while pay packets at more populous councils such as Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown and Northern Beaches were higher, at $550,000, $571,000, and $578,000, respectively.

Gail Connolly was chief executive of the City of Parramatta council before being sacked in October, and her total remuneration was more than $540,000.

The local government sector employs more than 65,000 people across NSW, about 9 per cent of public sector jobs in the state. The state’s 128 councils managed a combined $246 billion in assets in the 2023-24 financial year.

Chief executives have to negotiate their remuneration with councils, but this figure is also based on their skills and experience, the size and operational complexity of the specific council, market conditions and industry benchmarks, according to the Office of Local Government.

They are responsible for the council’s day-to-day operations, implementing the council’s strategic plans and objectives, the delivery of services and infrastructure, managing council staff and overseeing the financial management of the council.

Opinion polls have found about 80 per cent of Australians think corporate bosses are paid too much, and in 2021, the previous Coalition government triggered an Office of Local Government review into general manager and senior staff remuneration.

For greater transparency and accountability, the review suggested amending the Local Government Act so independent bodies, instead of councils, could set remuneration levels.

Other options include introducing pay caps and standardising chief executive remuneration across councils in line with how mayoral and councillor fees are set.

Separately, the NSW Greens previously pushed for a wage cap of $500,000 for senior executive roles in the public service.

Local Government NSW was contacted for comment.

Asked whether the government would set remuneration caps or standardise salaries, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said Labor had passed legislation requiring senior council staff – aside from the general manager – be moved off contracts and into permanent positions.

“The government recognises there is understandable community concern about the amounts being paid to some general managers based on market conditions. We are consulting on the right mechanism to ensure that communities can have confidence their council is paying their general manager an appropriate wage,” he said.

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