Opinion: Bunbury councillors in need of Time Out as chocolate farce a slap in the face for struggling locals

Sitting around in the council chambers debating how much to charge ratepayers to live in the Bunbury community during a cost-of-living crisis should be a matter treated with respect, discipline and compassion. What happened at the City of Bunbury’s council meeting on Tuesday night was far from a display of those values. With rates going up 7 per cent, some decorum while debating the 2024-25 budget should have been a baseline expectation. But, instead our paid community representatives were seen throwing chocolates around the room, laughing about each other’s behaviour, and just generally making the show all about them. It started with Cr Gabi Ghasseb becoming fed up with being interrupted as he debated a good chunk of the budget. I get it, everyone hates to be interrupted when they’re speaking, and debating points his constituents care about is the job. I’m also all for having a bit of fun, in what otherwise can be a dull job. However, this display was a slap in the face to those very ratepayers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet in a cost-of-living crisis — without the part-time salary of also being a councillor. Each regular councillor receives up to $41,778, while the deputy mayor can take home $66,057. Overseeing the meeting was our mayor Jaysen Miguel, who takes home $156,027 — though his job is full-time, compared to that of the councillors. With the rates increase, some ratepayers may not even be able to afford a spare packet of chocolates to share among friends, and many are worried about losing the roof over their heads. Maybe Cr Ghasseb can find it in his heart to share the chocolates around, in a more thoughtful way, next time.