Sydney councils spend huge amounts for international junkets

Seminars focused on climate change and the benefits of cycling were among overseas visits taken by council employees last financial year as Sydney councils racked up a combined travel cost bill of more than $7 million.

Ratepayers are footing massive travel and “incidentals” bills so councillors and staff can jet off to interstate and overseas conferences.

Seminars on climate change and the benefits of cycling were among overseas visits taken by council staff and councillors last financial year with Sydney councils running up a combined travel cost bill of more than $7 million.

The state Opposition has slammed the spending at a time when councils are also considering major rate rises and increases to fees. “When ratepayers are struggling with the cost of living and many councils considering special rate variations, overseas travel to me would be hard to justify,” Opposition local government spokeswoman Wendy Tuckerman said.

The City of Sydney attended overseas conferences including a Belgium event focused on cycling.

City of Sydney ratepayers were left with a $183,000 bill including $23,000 to cover airfares and accommodation for eight senior staff to attend overseas visits.

On the itinerary was a carbon neutral summit in Toronto, Canada, a cultural forum in Brazil, a European cyclists conference in Belgium and a conference on “metropolitan resilience” in Mexico.

A City of Sydney spokeswoman said the council “tries to minimise staff travel, where possible, with staff regularly attending conferences and holding meetings online”.

“On occasion, staff are approved to attend events that require travel, where it is deemed beneficial for the city,” she said.

Council travel expenses have been revealed in annual financial reports.

Parramatta ratepayers coughed up $71,507 to send councillors and staff on events including a library conference in the Netherlands and a six- day study tour in London.

Camden and Blacktown rolled their interstate and overseas travel costs in with the entire council’s general travel costs (including leased vehicles), so their respective totals of $3.4m and $2.1m look much higher.

A photo taken during the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue tour event in London

Staff travel costs included international airfares.

Blacktown Council’s costs covered sending three staff members on a $20,796 sister city delegation to Ireland with staff also attending summits and delegations in the United Kingdom, China and South Korea at a combined cost of almost $30,000.

“Delegations from these cities visited Blacktown in return, providing economic benefit and raising the profile of our region among their communities,” a spokesman said.

Blacktown councillor Jess Diaz.

The City of Sydney Council spent more than $180,000 on travel costs last financial year.

Central Coast Council – which was in administration during the 2023-24 financial year – paid the overseas accommodation costs for a staff member to receive a tourism award awarded to the council at an event in Germany.

Canterbury-Bankstown billed ratepayers $35,745 for three councillors to attend a Leadership Dialogue event at East London. According to a council report, the event “provided valuable insights”. In 2021, it had its request to increase rates by 32 per cent over five years approved.

Despite being one of the smallest councils by area in NSW, travel costs by Mosman Council tallied $460,000 – more than double the amount far larger councils such Campbelltown at $162,000.

A Mosman spokeswoman said its travel costs included staff vehicle allowances, public transport and other travel costs associated with staff carrying out their duties.

Blacktown councillor Jess Diaz said overseas travel costs would be better spent paying for core council services.

 ‘We have to rein in this funding because it’s ratepayer money,” he said.

A spokesman for Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said councils must “remember they are accountable to their community first and foremost. Ratepayers expect their money is being spent effectively and appropriately”.

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Originally published as Sydney councils spend huge amounts for international junkets