Hobart City Council remain tight-lipped on China trip with TSO

THE Hobart City Council will send a delegation of aldermen on a two-week tour of eastern China in December after the trip was approved in a closed council meeting.

Deputy Mayor Ron Christie will tour China with the TSO. Picture: KIM EISZELE

THE Hobart City Council will send a delegation of aldermen on a two-week tour of eastern China in December after the trip was approved in a closed council meeting.

It is understood Deputy Mayor Ron Christie will represent Lord Mayor Sue Hickey on the trip and would be accompanied by his partner, as well as Ald. Jeff Briscoe and Ald. Tanya Denison.

The delegation is also likely to include at least one council officer.

The TSO invited the Lord Mayor and aldermen to accompany them on their tour between December 26 and January 8.

Members of the Hobart City Council will tour China will the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The delegation is also expected to visit the friendship city of Xi’an during the trip.

Earlier this year the council approved a change of policy to permit any alderman representing the Lord Mayor to have the attendance of their partner funded by council.

The Mercury understands the council has approved a $20,000 grant to the TSO for the trip, but would not provide details on the projected cost of the trip.

The council has spent $56,000 on overseas travel since July, including $38,870 for a trip to sister city Yaizu in August and $18,000 for Lord Mayor Sue Hickey and General Manager Nick Heath to attend the World Cities Summit in Singapore.

Aldermen Jeff Briscoe and Helen Burnet will also accompany the University of Tasmania to Budapest, Freiburg and Cambridge for a conference and study tour next month at an expected cost of $14,000 per head.

The council originally discussed the China trip and funding application in an open Economic Development and Communications Committee meeting in July but deferred the decision to seek additional information.

Mr Heath said the item had then been moved to closed council on request of the TSO, because it contained information of a confidential nature.

The original agenda item recommended that council provide partial sponsorship to the TSO of $10,000 for the concert in Fuzhou, China.

Originally published as Hobart City Council remain tight-lipped on China trip with TSO