The RACGP’s 14 board directors — including the college president — face working without pay for the next five months unless grassroots members vote in favour of a new $1.2 million remuneration package at an extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday.

The move has been forced on the college after an apparent mix-up last year when members voted against the board’s decision to pay directors on the basis of a financial year rather than the 12 months between annual general meetings (AGMs).

The way the resolution was structured in 2021 apparently caused confusion, with some GPs believing the board was trying to double its pay, said college vice-president Dr Bruce Willett.

He said the idea was to approve two separate payment periods last year: the seven months from the 2021 AGM to the financial year end and then another 12 months for the 2022/2023 financial year.