By ALESHA CAPONE
THE new Hobsons Bay mayor has called for a change in superannuation laws so the council will not have to pay $8 million to prop up a fund’s shortfall.
After her election last Tuesday night Mayor Angela Altair said it was “unfair” municipal councils would have to help make up a Vision Super shortfall of about $450 million.
The scheme was closed almost two decades ago but provides retirement benefits and pensions to some public sector employees.
Under Federal Government laws the scheme must be totally backed with cash so Vision Super can ask companies to fully fund its liability.
“Finding $8 million by July next year to top up the unfunded superannuation shortfall is another wicked problem this council faces,” Cr Altair said after being elected.
“Eight million dollars would fix a lot of potholes and back lanes.”
“In the end it will be up to the Federal Government to change the super laws.
“With one stroke of the pen they could immediately pump $8 million into our budget.”
Cr Altair said all newly-elected mayors across the rest of Melbourne – who are all female and independent – agreed councils should not have to make up the Vision Super shortfall.
“We all recognise the critical nature of this issue and the unfairness,” she said.
“There’s not much we can do on our own but together we are much stronger.”
Also last Tuesday night Cr Luba Grigorovitch became Hobsons Bay’s new deputy mayor.
Cr Altair described Cr Grigorovitch as “an outstanding councillor who will make an equally fine deputy mayor”.
Cr Altair said the area’s seven new councillors would work together for the community’s best interests.
“I know all of us said many things in the lead-up to the elections,” she said.
“We need to put all of that behind us and make a fresh start. We do need to work as a team.
“Many of our citizens are doing it tough too and we have to see how we can improve our rate relief policies to help them.
“I also want to work with all the businesses in Hobsons Bay to see whether we can jointly plan for a more sustainable future environmentally, economically and socially.”
