Executive assistant for Shire of Augusta-Margaret River president Julia Meldrum still vacant

A plum ratepayer-funded role to help out newly-elected Shire president Julia Meldrum is still up for grabs. A Shire of Augusta-Margaret River spokesperson this week confirmed the executive assistant role, first advertised back in November, remained unfilled. “Our initial efforts to recruit a suitable assistant for the Shire president have been unsuccessful and as such the recruitment process continues,” they said. The job vacancy came after the October election saw the Shire presidency decided through direct election by ratepayers for the first time. Coming with about an $80,000 per year salary, the job was expected to be filled in November. At the time, then-Shire chief executive Stephanie Addison-Brown said the position was created as a result of requirements stemming from the WA Government’s reform of the local government sector. However, Local Government Minister David Michael said there was no onus on local governments to create a full-time Office of the Shire president and City of Busselton chief executive Tony Nottle said the same. A spokesperson for Mr Michael said staff support for newly-elected local government leaders was the decision of local governments regardless of the changes to mandate popular election of all Shire president and Mayors. The Times understands the executive assistant was funded from existing Shire staff allocations. Previous advertising for the Shire gig said the role would suit a “dynamic and professional” assistant to co-ordinate activities related to the Shire president’s office. “You will understand protocols relating to political and government stakeholders and offices, be competent with undertaking research, be able to prepare speech notes, statements and correspondence, as well as providing a high level of general administrative support in a local government working environment,” the advert said.