The Source: Mayor’s festive excuse for 2312 per cent spending hike

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece must really have got into the Christmas spirit last year, judging his latest council expenses report.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece was feeling festive last year. Picture: David Caird

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece has progressively shrunk from public view since his election victory last October.

During the campaign he was furiously pestering every Melbourne-based journo with his latest policy ideas – from the wacky to the wonderful – but now he seems less inclined to comment on Melbourne matters and appears more focused on the English Premier League coaching ranks.

Nevertheless, Reece’s latest council expenses report made somewhat interesting reading.

His spend on “communications” skyrocketed to $3,486.81 in the last three months of 2024 – up from $144.51 the previous quarter.

What was the reason for the 2312 per cent cost increase?

Nick Reece was just doing his best to get on santa’s ‘nice’ list. Picture: Jason Edwards

A spokeswoman for Reece said: “The Office of the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and Councillors use external correspondence to communicate with the community – this is provided for in the Act.”

“Final quarter spends consistently reflect end-of-calendar-year communications exercises,” she added.

The Source can translate that public service speak to mean sending out Christmas cards to the good burghers of Melbourne. Ours must have been lost in the mail.

Originally published as The Source: Mayor’s festive excuse for 2312 per cent spending hike