Melbourne councils under fire for Asia ‘junket’ spending

VICTORIAN councils are under fire for splashing ratepayers’ money on overseas “junkets” instead of focusing on local issues.

VICTORIAN councils are under fire for splashing ratepayers’ money on overseas “junkets” instead of focusing on local issues.

La Trobe City council in Gippsland will spend $21,000 to send Mayor Darrell White and others to Japan and China in April.

The two week jaunt includes visits to wind and solar farms and will “support job creation” in Gippsland, according to a council report.

It comes as Hobsons Bay prepares to send Mayor Angela Altair and one officer to the council’s Japanese sister city next month.

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The trip has been billed as a 30th anniversary “celebration” of the two cities’ relationship.

And Melbourne City Council attracted controversy this week when it sent a delegation on a 10-day trip to Europe at a cost of $31,000 last October.

La Trobe City council mayor Darrell White. Picture: La Trobe City

Hobsons Bay Mayor Angela Altair. Picture: Hobsons Bay Council

Ratepayers Victoria vice president Frank Sullivan slammed the trips as “junkets” and said councils should focus on issues at home.

“I’ve never seen one bit of evidence ever that these overseas junkets are of any value to the local community,” he said.

And he dismissed claims of job creation as “spin”.

“What benefit would a ratepayer get from (councillors) visiting another country?” he said.

“People feel councils aren’t spending their money properly and this is a good example of that.”

Councillor White defended his trip last week, claiming it would “create investment opportunities” in the job-starved region.

Two Victorian councils are under fire for organising “junkets” to Japan. Picture: Stock image

Unemployment in La Trobe is 9.2 per cent, higher than the statewide average of 6 per cent.

La Trobe council has budgeted $7000 per person for the trip, including $200 per night for accommodation and $50 per day for food.

A spokeswoman for Hobsons Bay council said the five-day trip to the city of Anjo would cost about $4000.

The spokeswoman said a delegation of Japanese councillors were expected to visit Hobsons Bay in October this year.

The purpose of both visits is to “explore ideas that have a particular cultural focus and further build on these friendships”, according to a council report.

Crs Altair and White take home mayoral allowances of $78,000 plus expenses.

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