Kerry O’Brien appears to fight sleep at ‘yes’ campaign event in Queenscliff

Queenscliff ratepayers are demanding a refund after being slugged $1300 to fly a high-profile, and apparently sleepy, former ABC journalist to speak at a pro-Voice event.

The council has been accusde of “recklessly” using taxpayer funds for the event.

Queenscliff ratepayers were slugged $1300 to fly high-profile journalist Kerry O’Brien in business class to attend a pro-Voice panel.

But the prominent guest appeared to almost fall asleep at the controversial ‘yes’ campaign event which was hosted by the Borough of Queenscliffe council on Sunday at a cost of almost $4000.

Fuming Queenscliff residents have demanded a refund, with one ratepayer calling the spend “outrageous” and another calling the event “unhinged hysteria”.

The Herald Sun can reveal the council, which is the smallest in Victoria, paid $1299.44 for business class flights and a car for Mr O’Brien – a former ABC journalist and co-author of The Voice to parliament Handbook – to be one of three pro-Voice panellists.

Kerry O’Brien appeared sleepy during the event in Queenscliff on Sunday. Picture: Supplied.

O’Brien is a former ABC host and journalist.

The council also spent $500 on car costs for panellist, University of Melbourne constitutional lawyer Prof Cheryl Saunders, and another $513 on security.

Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles was also a guest speaker at the event, which reportedly attracted just over 100 people.

Borough of Queenscliffe chief executive Martin Gill confirmed the hefty spend on travel expenses for the two speakers over the weekend.

“One speaker is travelling from interstate and Council is covering the cost of the flights,” Mr Gill said.

“Travel expenses for the two speakers amounts to $1700.”

Local resident Ian Royce, who labelled the spend “utterly offensive”, said Mr O’Brien looked to have fallen asleep “for about five minutes”.

“I think he was a bit sleepy, a bit tired after his business class flight in from Queensland,” Mr Royce joked.

The ratepayer said the event was a “hate fest” and that panellists “didn’t even discuss arguments for the yes or no vote.”

“They only had time for two questions because Kerry had to catch a flight,” Mr Royce said.

Local Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said council spending its ratepayer funds on flying in O’Brien was “extremely concerning” and a “reckless use of ratepayer funds”.