Councillor Expenses

Under the Local Government Act 2020, Councillors are entitled to two types of payments. The first is an allowance, or yearly remuneration and the second is reimbursements for any reasonable expenses incurred as a Councillor.

Councillor expenses and allowances

The Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal sets the base allowances payable to Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors under the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal and Improving Parliamentary Standards Act 2019. Mornington Peninsula Shire is classified as a Category 3 Council, and the following base annual allowances apply from 1 July 2025:

Role Annual Allowance (from 1 July 2025) Annual Allowance (from 18 December 2025)
Mayor $142,661 $146,319
Deputy Mayor $71,329 $73,159
Councillor $41,992 No further increase currently scheduled

These amounts are set independently by the Tribunal and are reviewed annually.

You can view the full determination at Allowance payable to Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors (Victoria) Annual Adjustment Determination 2025

For further information, visit the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal website

Councillor expenses and reimbursements

Reimbursement of Expenses

Under Section 40 of the Local Government Act 2020, Council must reimburse Councillors for out-of-pocket expenses that:

  • are bona fide
  • have been reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties
  • are reasonably necessary for their role.

To provide clarity on what constitutes reimbursable expenses, Council has adopted the Councillor Expenses and Support Policy which outlines:

  • the types of expenses that are eligible for reimbursement
  • the process for reimbursement
  • the public reporting of Councillor expenses.

Council chooses to itemise its Councillor expenses in accordance with the following categories:

  • Councillor allowance
  • Councillor superannuation
  • Councillor information and communications
  • Councillor private car mileage
  • Councillor conferences and training (which includes related travel)
  • Councillor conferences and training – accommodation
  • Councillor conferences and training – hospitality
  • Councillor parking and travel
  • Councillor expenses – other
  • Printing and stationery
  • Councillor childcare/carer services.

Expense reporting

Council publishes a quarterly summary of Councillor expenses as a running total for the current Council term.

Download: Councillor Expenses as at December 2025(PDF, 140KB)

Councillor expenses and reimbursements are also reported to the:

  • Audit and Risk Committee
  • Community via the Quarterly Community Report
  • Public via the Annual Report

Events, training and conferences

Councillors must complete a request form prior to attending events, training, conferences, or seminars where costs are involved.

The form includes a section outlining how the activity will benefit the Mornington Peninsula community.

Download: Councillor training, conferences, seminars and events register as at December 2025(PDF, 96KB)

Gifts and Benefits

Under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 2020, Council is required to adopt a Councillor Gifts Policy.

Council’s policy includes:

  • Procedures for accepting, declining or declaring gift
  • Maintenance of a public Gift Register
  • A requirement that all offers of gifts over $50 in value must be declared.

Download: Councillor Gift Register(PDF, 120KB)

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