Mornington Peninsula Shire under fire for splashing cash on hotel rooms for local conference
A five star hotel bill has prompted a call for “greater scrutiny” of how Mornington Peninsula councillors spend their training allowance.
South East
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A Melbourne council’s $1816 hotel bill has sparked a bid to stop “under the radar” expense claims.
Leader on Wednesday revealed that Mornington Peninsula Shire had booked five star rooms for three councillors attending a conference no more than 35 minutes from their own beds.
The move was slammed as an “extravagant junket” by Ratepayers Victoria.
Councillor and former mayor Anthony Marsh has since asked the council to consider changing the way claims for training are approved.
“Only a fraction of councillor expenses come to public meetings for disclosure, debate and a decision,” Cr Marsh said.
“A large portion of councillor expenditure flies under the radar, with little or no opportunity for public scrutiny.”
Cr Marsh wanted more details on how councillors are spending their $16,000 allowances for training, conferences and seminars made public.
He has called for the council to publish a monthly itemised listing of all councillor expenses relating to conferences, training, seminars, other events and hospitality.
Optional extras including dinners and social activities should be listed separately, he said.
Cr Marsh also wanted the purpose of the event and how it would benefit the community to be included along with the cost to the public.
Currently claims of $2000 or less do not have to be approved by the council in a public forum.
While the expenses are listed on the council’s website, the claims are not itemised, and only the claims for the current financial year are shown.
“It is appropriate that the public can regularly scrutinise the councillor group’s use of public money,” Cr Marsh said.
His request to overhaul the council’s policy on expense claims is expected to be considered on March 7.
Cr Marsh’s own spending was scrutinised on Tuesday when he asked to be reimbursed $3,750.48 for intestate travel.
The claim included airfares to Darwin, car hire and airport parking during a three-day visit to Roper Gulf Regional Council in September 2022.
The visit was part of the council’s bid to enter into a sister city arrangement with the remote, largely Indigenous regional council.
Cr Marsh initially covered the expenses himself and told the council he would bear the cost if the visit was not successful.
The council went on to sign a sister city agreement with Roper Gulf and Cr Marsh lodged his expense claim.
However, some councillors wanted more time to consider the retrospective claim to determine if it was allowed.
Cr Sarah Race said there was a “policy gap” and wanted to defer the claim for two months to allow councillors to get more information.
Cr Antonella Celi agreed and said the council’s current reimbursement policy required a council decision before expenses were incurred.
Despite the concerns, the move to defer was lost and the expense claim was approved.
Mornington ratepayers foot bill for ‘extravagant junket’
Luxurious hotel rooms have been booked for a group of Victorian councillors attending an “extravagant junket” when their own beds are no more than 35 minutes away.
Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors plan to stay at RACV Cape Schanck resort for up to two nights during the Australian Local Government Women’s Association national conference from May 17 to 20.
Rooms at the five star resort start at $372 a night and tickets for the four day talk-fest range from $1200 for workshops, guest speakers and a gala dinner to $1400 for the entire event which also includes a welcome function and networking dinner.
The council has confirmed that four councillors are registered to attend the entire event at an “early bird” cost of $5040.
Others may register for the event within the next three months.
Three councillors — Despi O’Connor, Sarah Race and Antonella Celi — will be staying over at the conference at a total cost of $1816.
The five star Cape Schanck Resort is no more than 35 minutes from the councillors’ homes.
Ratepayers Victoria has labelled the conference an “extravagant junket” and accused the shire of “not reading the room”.
“We’ve just had yet another interest rate rise, cost of living pressures are squeezing hard working families and councils are likely to put up their own rates by 3.5 per cent this year,” spokesman Dean Hurlston said.
“Ratepayers should not be footing the hotel bill for councillors who live half an hour away from the event.”
Cr O’Connor said she and Cr Race “advocated strongly” in 2021 to win the conference for the region.
“It is the first time in a long time that the national conference has been in Victoria,” Cr O’Connor said.
“We are proud of this success.
“This conference is an opportunity to connect, inspire and thrive.”
She said councillors would be hosting delegates over four days offering events and experiences across the region through the day and into the late evening.
The accommodation was part of a budgeted allowance “and is well within the limits for councillors”, she said.
Cr Celi said staying at the resort was “more convenient and safer” as the conference involved early mornings, late nights and a lot of work for host councillors.
“I will also be providing extra support with one of the plenary sessions,” she said.
Cr Celi said once the program was finalised she would reassess her accommodation needs.
“It may be that I don’t need to stay both nights,” she said.
The conference attendance would be paid in accordance with the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s councillor expenses, reimbursement, resources and facility policy, Cr Celi said.
Cr Race has been contacted.
Mornington Peninsula councillors can claim up to $16,000 for training, conferences and seminars over a four-year term.
The mayor can claim an extra $3500.
Mornington Peninsula mayor Steve Holland said he has not claimed any expenses for the conference despite being invited to speak at the event.
He said hosting the conference enabled the council to support local businesses and lift the region’s profile of our region.
“Events like these encourage repeat visitation and provide a proven economic boost to the local economy,” he said.
The Institute of Public Affairs said the council had “forgotten that they exist to serve the ratepayer, not council employees.”
“This is the same council that wanted to spend $1.9m on an expert panel to teach staff about leadership and culture so that the council offices would become a place where employees “love to work”, Dr Bella d’Abrera said.
“At a time when cost of living is a growing concern, this misuse of ratepayers money is completely unacceptable.”
Deputy mayor Debra Mar and Cr Lisa Dixon have declined the offer of accommodation.