She’s been tipped as Clover Moore’s heir apparent, but Jess Scully says councillors face significant challenges juggling council work and family life.
The City of Sydney councillor widely tipped to succeed Lord Mayor Clover Moore is resigning from the council, citing the lack of parental leave for politicians in local government in NSW.
“I know it would be very difficult for me to sign up to do that again, knowing there’s no leave and no leeway,” Scully said. In NSW, local councillors are paid a yearly fee and are not eligible for parental leave, sick leave, compassionate leave, or carer’s leave.Scully, who is due to give birth in October, will request the council to write to the NSW government urging them to implement 18 weeks’ paid parental leave for councillors, and to develop a discussion paper on the issue.
Moore will use a mayoral minute at Monday’s meeting to criticise the leave provisions as “appalling”. She would not be drawn on any succession plans on Thursday, saying her sole focus was delivering on the election commitments her team made in 2021. Moore has been lord mayor since 2004.“I have always run with a strong ticket, with a diverse range of experience to draw on, all of whom are fine leaders,” Moore said.She said working alongside Moore had shown her that “careers are really long, and there’s time”.
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