NewsBite

City of Melbourne “categorically” rules out any more councillors to join Asian trade mission

There are calls to ban “wasteful” and “unnecessary” council junkets, as the City of Melbourne rules out sending another councillor on an Asian trade delegation.

The City of Melbourne has categorically denied any further councillors will take part in Lord Mayor Nick Reece’s Asian trade junket.

It comes as multiple Town Hall sources told the Herald Sun that there was serious consideration given to expanding the trade delegation to include Councillor Andrew Rowse – which would have added further expense to the trip.

A spokesman for the City of Melbourne said: “categorically no more councillors would be attending the trade delegation other than those already voted on and announced by (the) council.”

Councillor Andrew Rowse, centre, may be joining Lord Mayor Nick Reece’s Asian trade junket to China. Picture: Jason Edwards
Councillor Andrew Rowse, centre, may be joining Lord Mayor Nick Reece’s Asian trade junket to China. Picture: Jason Edwards

The delegation includes Mr Reece and Councillors Kevin Louey, Philip Le Liu and Gladys Liu and the group will visit “priority partner cities of Chengdu, Nanjing and Tianjin in China and Osaka in Japan”, with stopovers in Hong Kong and Tokyo, between September 16 to 29.

Councillors are entitled to business class flights and the cost for each councillor is expected to be $20,470.

At least two senior Town Hall staff, one from the council’s Invest Melbourne unit and a representative from the Lord Mayor’s Office, are entitled to attend and, if they go, are expected fly business class. If both attend, it would have an estimated cost per person of about $20,000.

It’s expected the cost to ratepayers will be around $130,000. The council’s predicted surplus for 2025-26 is $150,000.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece and the councillors will be flying business class on the trip. Picture: Jason Edwards
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece and the councillors will be flying business class on the trip. Picture: Jason Edwards

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston slammed Town Hall’s Asian trade junket as wasteful and unnecessary spending during a cost-of-living crisis.

“The use of ratepayer funds like this is unacceptable and a slap in the face to all those struggling to pay their rates,” he said.

“At a time when councils complain about cost pressures and cost shifting, it seems words are cheap but ratepayer funded junkets are not.

“We call on the City of Melbourne to abandon this frivolous waste of public money. Junkets need to be banned.”

A senior Town Hall source said the expensive nature of the trip was causing concern among some councillors.

“I have had a lot of negative feedback from the community about it being quite outrageous to send four local councillors to Asia on a trade mission – particularly when so many small businesses are still struggling,” the source said.

Mr Reece has previously said the trade mission was tipped to generate $19 million in economic activity and up to 50 new jobs for Melbourne.

Originally published as City of Melbourne “categorically” rules out any more councillors to join Asian trade mission

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/victoria/councillor-andrew-rowse-may-join-lord-mayors-150000-ratepayer-funded-china-junket/news-story/69cb7fd9bfbd5273cc0c1f33fd7199fb