Port Pirie Mayor John Rohde defends trade missions to the Philippines — where he met up with his online girlfriend
THE leader of one of the state’s biggest regional councils met up with his online girlfriend while on two ratepayer-funded overseas trips to the Philippines, triggering a council review.
THE leader of one of the state’s biggest regional councils met up with his online girlfriend while on two ratepayer-funded overseas trips to the Philippines, triggering a council review.
Port Pirie Mayor John Rohde — an aspiring state Labor MP who has also stood for a Senate seat — flew to Asia in April and May 2016 on separate trade missions, costing almost $3500.
During the first trip, the father of three met his girlfriend Bita in person for the first time, months after they started their online relationship.
Council paid for Mr Rohde’s return flights to the Philippines but not other costs such as accommodation. He returned to the Philippines at least twice in 2017 but paid his own way.
The mother of four, who asked not to have her surname published, told The Advertiser she attended an Australian embassy function and trade dinner during the second official trip in 2016.
Mr Rohde, 52, who told Bita, 45, that his wife was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, has denied any wrongdoing.
He told The Advertiser he did not disclose the relationship to the council because “it wasn’t my intention for my trip(s) over there” but denied it was a “conflict of interest”.
“Council has been given the opportunity to ask any questions and there’s none forthcoming,” he said.
“I was over there to represent my region. I have worked through all of this with my council. I am not prepared to make any further comment at this stage.”
In a later statement issued through his lawyer on Tuesday afternoon, the mayor refused to answer a series of questions from The Advertiser.
They included:
DID Mr Rohde disclose his personal relationship with Bita to anyone on council before any expenditure was incurred?
WHY did the council fund two such trips in six weeks given it has never had any formal dealings with the country previously, or paid anyone to travel there before or since?
DOES council, or Mr Rohde, believe it is an appropriate use of public money to send a senior civic leader to an overseas country where his girlfriend lived?
WILL Mr Rohde refund the cost of the flights?
IF this was an official trip why was there no other expenditure billed to the council?
DID Mr Rohde advocate for his presence on the trade missions? And if so, why wasn’t this close personal relationship with a woman who he stayed with in the Philippines on the trips disclosed to any council official or ratepayers before the missions?
His lawyer’s letter states: “All proper and relevant issues have been the subject of a full review commissioned by council which quite properly determined no wrongdoing by Mayor Rohde. The further line of questioning ... is irrelevant and will not be responded to.”
It is understood the council has never sent officials to the Philippines before or expressed prior interest in the region.
Details emerged late last year when Bita wrote to councillors shortly after she says Mr Rohde ended their long-distance relationship via email.
Some councillors’ concerns about “inappropriate spending” had caused internal council angst, prompting Mr Rohde to request an investigation.
The “comprehensive” review, undertaken by chief executive Andrew Johnston, found the council paid $3446.73 for return airfares to Asia.
But it did not uncover any other personal credit card spending or expenses over the past two years.
Dr Johnson did not review “every individual receipt/invoice” but said he searched records.
Mr Rohde, a former postal worker, told councillors the review found “no indication of impropriety”, while “standards” were maintained.
Council records show the first trip, on April 8 to 12, 2016, was for a “Philippine trade mission for regional business engagement opportunities”.
Documents state he again visited the Philippines at ratepayers’ expense during a State Government-led “South East Asian business mission”, from May 25 to June 1 that same year.
The airfares cost the council $1994 and $1452.73. Mr Rohde told councillors the council CEO “generously offered” to pay for the flights, but he personally covered all other costs.
Ratepayers were also billed for freighting “trade samples” and parking at Adelaide Airport. Mr Rohde later claimed he created “robust opportunities” for grain growers.
Bita said they met on an online dating site in January 2016 and Mr Rohde told her he was separated.
Bita claimed that during the official council trips, the pair stayed in hotels in Manila, 70km north of her home town Las Banos, while she attended official functions.
She said he also met some of her children, aged 15-27, and told her he would divorce his wife.
After resigning from her senior human resources managerial job and selling property to fund an Australian move, Bita said she was left devastated when Mr Rohde ended the relationship on October 19 last year.
She emailed the council on November 6 warning about his “duplicitous behaviour” and “character”.
She told The Advertiser from the Philippines that she accompanied her lover while on official business but declined to comment in detail about their personal relationship.
“I was looking to start a new life with him and ... because I believed in him, I lost my secured career,” she said. “It is hard to know what the truth really is.”
Dr Johnson said on Tuesday the mayor travelled as its “representative”. “Council is satisfied that there was no misuse of (its) funds,” he said.
