Emergency business class flights costing ratepayers thousands
The Bundaberg Regional Council has come under fire for not being clear about the true cost of an international delegation after emergency business class flights were booked.
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Concerns have been raised about transparency and costs of international trips at Bundaberg Regional Council with claims a 2019 delegation cost ratepayers thousands more than expected.
A whistleblower claims the 2019 sister city trip cost thousands more than the reported $20,000 because then deputy mayor and another staffer were rushed home on emergency business class flights.
Bill Trevor was flown home for medical reasons – along with a council staffer – after he suffered a fall and broke his collar bone, wrist and suffered deep lacerations to his head just two days into the 10-day trip.
The whistleblower – who asked to remain anonymous – also called for the council to assess how it selects staff for international trips, given they said concerns had been raised about Mr Trevor’s mobility.
On September 19, 2019, four councillors and the council adviser flew to their first of a two-stop international sister city visit.
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The flights – funded by ratepayers – landed in Nanning, China, where then deputy mayor Mr Trevor, councillors Helen Blackburn, Scott Rowleson and Steve Cooper and senior adviser Wayne Heidrich were greeted by the Nanning Municipal People’s Government.
The delegation was booked to tour tourism, technology and trade areas before flying out to Settsu Japan on September 23.
Within a few days of landing in China, Mr Trevor miss-stepped off a boat onto a gangway resulting in several injuries including a broken collar bone, broken wrist and deep lacerations to the head.
The whistleblower said Mr Trevor received initial emergency treatment in China before flying home to Australia for subsequent surgery in Brisbane.
He would fly back to Australia on emergency business flights, just days after landing in China.
Because of the severity of his injuries, Mr Heidrich, who had been sent as part of the delegation to report on the trip for council’s Bundaberg Now website, flew back to Australia with Mr Trevor.
The whistleblower estimated the cost of the emergency flights were between $4500 to $10,000.
They said this also resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars worth of flights from Nanning to Settsu and Settsu to Australia due to Mr Trevor and Mr Heidrich’s unexpected return to Australia.
Mr Trevor said he would not respond to anonymous accusations.
“I am always happy to answer any questions from the community if they want to come forward as honest citizens,” he said.
Reports from the whistleblower indicate while accommodation and meals during the course of the visit was to be supplied by the Chinese and Japanese hosts, the costs for flights would come from council money.
The Bundaberg Regional Council did not reply to questions about the trip, the cost to ratepayers for emergency flights, if this cost was ever recouped, or if prior concerns were raised over Mr Trevor’s mobility.
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