Councillors call for halt on international junkets

Andrew Mathieson
RATEPAYER-funded council trips to China should be scrapped, according to Geelong councillors.
Stretch Kontelj and Andrew Katos said previous trips were a waste of money.
They calculated Geelong councillors and City staff had spent about $100,000 on trips to China.
Mayor John Mitchell plans to visit Chinese city Lianyungang, which has a sister-city arrangement with Geelong.
Cr Kontelj said council must tighten its travel belt after former mayor Peter McMullin splurged on several expensive trips to China.
“My view is that the timing is not right for such a trip,” he said.
“We need to see what benefit has come back to the City since the previous trips.”
Cr Kontelj called on council to instead foster stronger relationships with both state and federal governments to improve infrastructure around Geelong.
The only overseas council trip to return any “tangible” benefit was to Japan to recruit champion baseball team Chiba Lotte Marines, he said.
“I’ve always been very sceptical of the benefits of things like study tours and goodwill visits during my 11 years on council.”
Cr Katos, council’s finance portfolio-holder, wanted to see reports before endorsing councillors’ overseas travel.
However, he revealed he would travel to Sydney for a housing affordability conference next month.
“Two people going to Sydney costs $5000 for two or three days,” Cr Katos said.
“Going to China with staff I would have to estimate would be well in excess of $20,000.
Cr Mitchell did not return the Independent’s call before it went to press yesterday.