Latrobe Council to splurge ratepayers’ cash on European ‘vacay’ for mayor

Latrobe City Council has been lashed for deciding to splash thousands of dollars of ratepayers’ cash to send its mayor on a “cheeky European vacay” to accompany a local band.

Latrobe City councillors moved to allocate $9500 for Mayor Dale Harriman to embark on a two-week trip to Europe. Picture: Ian Currie

A regional Victorian council has come under fire after moving to use thousands of dollars in ratepayer funds to send its mayor to Europe.

Latrobe City councillors moved to allocate $9500 for Mayor Dale Harriman to embark on a two-week junket to the UK, Belgium, Paris and Denmark to accompany the Traralgon City Band’s remembrance tour.

The band will be performing to Australian Queen Mary while overseas.

In an urgent business item at its monthly meeting earlier this week, councillors controversially moved to take the funds out of its unallocated cash reserve to send the mayor on an all-expenses paid trip, citing “potential economic conversations”.

ABC Morwell job cuts...Latrobe City mayor Dale Harriman Picture : Mike Keating.

“There is a potential meeting with Queen Mary on the books which would be great if the visit was reciprocated — that would be an incredible privilege for our local community to have,” Cr Adele Pugsley said.

Cr Darren Howe slammed the mayor’s bid, saying it offered “no economic bid to our city whatsoever”.

“We’ve just spent the last four or five weeks working on our budget — we’ve gone through every expense item on that budget in an effort to cut costs wherever possible,” he said.

“Now we’re here tonight discussing a proposal to send our mayor on a European vacation at a cost of nearly $10,000 charging it back to the ratepayer.”

Cr Leanne Potter told the council the band itself had “tirelessly fundraised” to pay their own way to Europe, and demanded the mayor do the same if he wished to travel overseas.

“I do have to ask is it not only fair that our mayor should not be expected to do the same thing and pay his own way additionally it remains unclear what tangible benefits the mayor’s attendance will bring to the wider Latrobe City community,” she said.

“The $9500 request does not account for the additional costs including food, incidentals and other expenses meaning the actual cost to the ratepayer could be even higher.

“Without a full and detailed report we cannot accurately assess the total funding that will be an impact of this trip.”

Councillors also pointed out that there had been no suggestion to support the Traralgon City Band members with funding for them to take the trip, calling the funding bid a “cheeky European vacay” for the mayor.

“Simply meeting with other mayors and attending dinners does not justify such a significant expenditure,” Cr Potter said.

Councillors were split in a four to four vote, with Deputy Mayor Sharon Gibson declaring the motion carried with a casting vote.

Originally published as Latrobe Council to splurge ratepayers’ cash on European ‘vacay’ for mayor