Weatherill Government backs Opposition calls for council travel expense transparency
THE state government says it is “a good idea” for councils to be forced to publicly reveal their ratepayer funded travel expenses in the same way federal and state politicians do.
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A PROPOSAL to publicly release details of all travel expenses billed to council ratepayers has won Government support.
Premier Jay Weatherill backed the Opposition’s policy to force South Australia’s 68 local authorities to release ratepayer-funded trips.
The push came after State Ombudsman Wayne Lines found that Mt Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee acted “inappropriately” and “walked a very fine line” by mediating a winery sale while on official council business overseas.
It also follows The Advertiser revealing Port Pirie Mayor John Rohde had met up with his online girlfriend while on two council-funded overseas trips to the Phillipines last year.
Mr Rohde’s trip was subject to an internal investigation that found no wrongdoing.
Premier Jay Weatherill said requiring councillors to release their ratepayer funded trips in an annual report was a “good idea”.
Opposition local government spokesman David Pisoni said a check of 19 metropolitan councils showed just one disclosed travel undertaken by elected members. He said the new requirement was needed to crack down on “wasteful” spending by local councils.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan noted publishing the information would bring the local government sector in line with government departments and ministers, who proactively disclose overseas and domestic trips, as well as credit card and office expenditure.