Albury deputy mayor upsets two fellow councillors with protest against political entitlements outside Health Minister Sussan Ley's office

Graham Docksey and Henk van de Ven expressed concerns about the demonstration against politicians’ perks, which will be held in Albury from 5.30pm on Wednesday.

Cr Docksey, who said he was speaking as a ratepayer rather than councillor, plans to raise the issue at a private council workshop.

“I’m very concerned that some councillors are exploiting their council position, particularly for their own personal political gains,” Cr Docksey said.

“In my opinion local government is about Albury and Albury local issues and not about grandstanding.

“I absolutely think it’s inappropriate and we need to look at our own backyard before attacking others outside local government, particularly at state and federal government level.

“I don’t think it does us any good.”

Cr Cohn replied that she believed “it’s absolutely the role of local government to advocate to higher levels of government for changes that the community want to see”.

She cited a motion that Cr Docksey and fellow councillors supported in November to lobby other tiers of government for more funding to tackle domestic violence.

Cr van de Ven accused Cr Cohn of hypocrisy by protesting against politicians’ spending while having supported a more costly airport security contract option.

“It’s okay to spend $380,000 of council money that we didn’t need to, but here we are protesting about some trips which cost $20,000 to $30,000 which she will repay,” Cr van de Ven said.

Cr Cohn could not see a link, saying “it’s unfortunate that Cr van de Ven can’t let the issue go”.