Jiu-jitsu coach, stand-up comic, apiarist: Inside the surprise day jobs of Sydney’s councillors

Independent Wollondilly councillor Suzy Brandstater has retired from music teaching, but is now an HSC exam invigilator.

Lawyers include Waverley Council independent Steven Lewis, Penrith’s Reece Nuttall and Hawkesbury Deputy Mayor Sarah McMahon, both Liberals.

Political roles are common. Independent federal MP for Fowler Dai Le sits on Fairfield Council, representing her area at two levels of government.

Blacktown’s police prosecutor Mohit Kumar is running as the Liberal candidate for Riverstone. Inner West Deputy Mayor Philippa Scott announced on Thursday that she would be the Labor candidate for Balmain.

Liverpool’s Matthew Harte, a Liberal, works for Tina Ayyad, member for Holsworthy, and North Sydney Greens councillor Angus Hoy is a policy and parliamentary adviser for NSW upper house MP Abigail Boyd. Penrith’s Libby Austin, a Labor councillor, was previously an electorate officer and now works full-time at the Transport Workers’ Union of NSW.

Some councillors work across councils: Waverley’s Labor councillor Margaret Merten works in communications and marketing for the Inner West Council, and Sutherland Shire’s Haris Strangas, a Liberal, is a senior officer for government relations, advocacy and stakeholder, at Liverpool Council.

Among business owners, Sutherland Shire independent Carol Provan is a stylist as well as a marriage and funeral celebrant, and Waverley’s Liberal councillor Dov Frazer is “chief relaxation officer” at his company Hammock Bliss.

A spokesperson for Local Government NSW, the peak body representing the state’s councils, says councillors invest a substantial amount of unpaid personal time in their work.

“The remuneration of NSW mayors and councillors has not kept pace with increases in the complexity of the role and increases in the cost of living.

“Ensuring elected representatives are fairly recognised and supported is critical to attracting and retaining talented community leaders and maintaining strong local democracy.”

Some councillors disagree on remuneration increases. Cumberland’s Joseph Rahme, a Liberal, says that councillors should work for the love of the community.

“It’s being a bit tone-deaf if you’re putting your hand up for a pay rise.”

A NSW Office of Local Government spokesperson said councillors served “out of a sense of civic service, with many holding employment, business or community commitments alongside their roles as councillors”.

The state government requires councillors to disclose conflicts of interest and alternative income sources. Councillors are prohibited from working as a member of the NSW parliament, a judge or an employee of the council on which they serve.

Real estate agents and developers are permitted to stand on council, but they must declare conflicts as required.

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