Good times trips attacked

Jessica Benton
A GEELONG councillor has called for an independent panel of ratepayers to decide whether councillors should travel overseas after accusing his colleagues of serving on council for “the good times”.
Andy Richards said councillors who had “dropped the ball” were spending too much of ratepayers’ money on “unnecessary” overseas travel.
Cr Richards called for the panel after colleagues voted this week to send Bruce Harwood to France to promote a cycling race in Geelong.
Ratepayers will pay up to $4000 for the two-week trip, while council-funded Geelong Otway Tourism, will contribute an equal amount.
Cr Richards wanted a panel of three residents to decide whether council trips deserved approval.
“Councillors should not be voting on their own overseas travel. It should have to go through the last tick of approval so that it’s not a junket and it’s above board,” Cr Richards said.
“If a panel had to approve overseas travel, I’m sure the quality of the reports outlining the benefits would improve out of sight and the perception that councillors are just helping each other to go overseas would disappear.
Cr Richards said an independent panel would ensure good governance ahead of councillors’ “own pleasure”.
“I think some councillors have dropped the ball and are just there for the good times,” he said.
“Cr Jan Farrell voted to send Cr Harwood overseas and she is supposed to be the governance portfolio holder and yet she cannot see how there is clearly an issue here.
“Cr Kontelj wanted the CEO to deliver a wage cut to council staff this year yet he has voted to support another overseas trip on the basis of a briefing paper that was very light on detail.
“Cr Mitchell is the mayor of a city where unemployment is going up and manufacturing is closing down yet he supports this overseas trip on the basis of a briefing paper without much detail.
“In many ways, it’s symbolic of where some councillors are at in their thinking at the moment.
“I’m not going to support overseas travel for councillors, including the mayor, unless we are properly briefed and can ascertain what the benefits to the City are going to be.”
Cr Harwood defended his trip to the Tour de France, saying council would “seek out every opportunity” to promote Geelong’s leg of a UCI World Cycling Championships.
“We will not only be promoting the event but the Geelong region as a tourism destination – the exposure the Tour de France offers cannot be underestimated,” he said.
“At the same time the visit will give us a valuable insight into the logistics involved in staging a cycling event of this scale.”
Cr Harwood, a policeman, went on a $6000 council-funded trip to the USA last month to attend a biotechnology convention.
Mayor John Mitchell accused Cr Richards of misunderstanding “democratic processes”.
“Cr Richards’ comments indicate he doesn’t understand the democratic process, which is such that this issue was put forward in a council report and was debated, discussed and voted on 10-to-two in favour,” Cr Mitchell said.
“As councillors. we are elected and operate under a democratic process.”
Cr Jan Farrell would not comment and Cr Stretch Kontelj did not return the Independent’s call for comment.