Councillors to vote on Far North mayor’s international business trip

A council vote will determine if Cairns Mayor Amy Eden is jetsetting to the Pacific on a work trip later this year.

Cairns Regional Council will vote on a proposed trip to Papua New Guinea for mayor Amy Eden and CEO Ken Gouldthorp this week. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns councillors are set to determine whether ratepayers will fund an overseas work trip for mayor Amy Eden later this year to visit one of the region’s sister cities.

Ms Eden and sister cities ambassador Sim Hayward have been invited to visit Lae in Papua New Guinea this September to commemorate 50 years of independence for the Pacific nation.

The Papua New Guinean township of Lae, located in the Morobe province with a population of more than 100,000 residents, has a long-standing sister city relationship with Cairns.

Cairns Regional Council officers have recommended that the mayor, along with CEO Ken Gouldthorp, attend the event, arguing that there is “sufficient allowance” in the council’s operational budget to fund the trip.

The council’s report doesn’t detail how much the trip would cost.

Cairns councillors will attend an ordinary meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Brendan Radke

Under the council’s expense policy, all international trips for councillors must be voted on in order to be approved.

The travel is aligned with the council’s five-year corporate plan to build stronger relationships with Asia Pacific nations.

“The visit represents an opportunity to meet with and continue to build relationships with key representatives and stakeholders in Lae for the mutual benefit of both cities,” the council report said.

“There may also be opportunities to meet with other stakeholders in Port Moresby whilst transiting to Lae.”

Cairns Regional Council has a “long-standing and active” sister city relationship with Lae in Papua New Guinea, according to a council report. Picture: Brendan Radke

In a letter to the Cairns Post last week, Ms Eden said her council had delivered significant savings for the ratepayer recently.

“We made the tough calls – declining nearly $10m in internal spending requests, including 21 new staff positions and $7.7m in consultancy proposals,” Ms Eden said.

“We found savings – $400,000 by switching workers comp providers, $150,000 through a new electricity contract – and across the organisation, teams absorbed cost pressures without cutting services.”

Since being elected, Ms Eden has faced criticism from councillors for personal expenses, including $11,468.74 to attend a training course in April.

Councillors will vote on the trip at an ordinary meeting on Wednesday.

Originally published as Councillors to vote on Far North mayor’s international business trip