Ratepayers outraged over Stonnington Council spending almost $300k in donations
Ratepayers in Melbourne’s leafy east are furious after it was revealed their council splashed hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities offshore. They say foreign aid is the responsibility of the federal government, not local councils.
Inner East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Stonnington Council has once again come under fire for sending hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayers’ money overseas to assist with foreign aid.
The Leader can reveal the Friends of Baguia charity, which supports people living in East Timor, has received Stonnington community grants of up to $116,755 — $93,629 cash and $23,126 in kind — over the past 15 years.
The council has also injected $90,000 internationally and $65,000 nationally as part of its disaster relief policy.
Some of the causes include $50,000 towards the Victorian bushfire relief and $15,000 to victims of the Indonesian earthquake, the Pacific tsunami and Typhoon Katsana.
Councillors voted on Monday to continue the municipality’s friendship agreement with the Friends of Baguia charity but vowed to commit no further cash to it.
Councillor Marcia Griffin told the Leader she was outraged ratepayers were footing the bill for foreign aid.
“The purpose of local council is to look after those matters close to our homes — planning and development, local roads, footpaths, parks and playing fields,” Cr Griffin said.
“I do not believe international relations and or donations are the responsibility of council.”
Stonnington Ratepayers Association president Dean Hurlston said ratepayers were “deeply concerned” and “alarmed at the council’s spending on projects and foreign aid.
“It’s not the remit of local councils to be sending ratepayers’ moneys to foreign countries. This is a federal government remit,” Mr Hurlston said.
Friends of Baguia president Derarca O’Mahony said she was disappointed by residents’ reactions, which had now caused the group to miss out on funding this year.
“I’m extremely upset by this decision … I found the attitudes of those (opposed to supporting the charity) gobsmacking,” Ms O’Mahony said.
“We’re supporting primary schools over there … without any education these people are just doomed.”
She said the charity was helping develop career opportunities for East Timorese people.
“There’s no jobs — these are rural communities and they desperately need all the help they can get,” she said.
MORE: NEIGHBOURS OBJECT TO NOTORIOUS REGAL BOARDING HOUSE UPGRADE
POLICE CALLED TO CONTROL 200 CHANTING PROTESTERS
Stonnington mayor Steve Stefanopoulos said the council was proud to provide venues to host Friends of Baguia fundraising efforts.
Cr Stefanopoulos said the council’s friendship agreement was not legally binding and did not commit it to funding.
He said the council’s community grants program allocated over $1 million worth of cash and in-kind grants to about 150 individuals, community groups and local initiatives this year.
Ranked: Every player in Victorian Premier Cricket
The Victorian Premier Cricket home-and-away season has come to an end and we’ve broken down the numbers to see where every player compares against one another. See where you come in.
Alleged Middle Park bus stabber to remain behind bars
A man who allegedly stabbed another man on a Middle Park bus on Saturday night before jumping into Albert Park Lake in an attempt to avoid police will remain behind bars.