Linda Scott will close the gap and donate her salary to charities if elected Lord Mayor

City of Sydney Labor candidate for Lord Mayor, Councillor Linda Scott, will put in place a plan to close the gap on the disproportionate disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and will also donate her mayoral salary to charities and not-for-profit organisations if elected in September.

Councillor Scott made these announcements today while addressing the National Press Club on how Local Government is leading community-centric recovery through COVID.

“We will think national and act local by being the first Council in Australia to have a Closing the Gap Plan in consultation with local indigenous people to address disadvantage and deliver better outcomes”, said Councillor Scott.

“This is a matter of critical national importance, and it’s past time for all levels of government to step up and to help our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to make the change needed for our Indigenous communities. And nothing should be done without these communities being deeply involved, listened to, respected and invested in.

Councillor Scott said local government can lead the way in helping the broad community recover from the impacts of COVID with local solutions.

“The City’s budget can increase grants and subsidies, waive fees and rents which have impacts on the bottom line,” Councillor Scott said. 

“When our communities are doing it tough, frontline not-for-profits and charities are needed more than ever. If I’m elected as Lord Mayor of Sydney I will donate my salary in that first term to our local charities or not-for-profit organisations,” Councillor Scott said.

“I can’t in good conscience, take this salary when so many in our community are doing it tough and need direct support.

The City of Sydney Local Government elections will be held on Saturday 4 September. All news and policies relating to the Labor campaign can be found at lindascott.org.au

Read Linda’s address to the National Press Club in full here