POLL: Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery is off to China once again, despite concerns from other councillors that the trip – which will include two council staffers – was an extravagant use of council funds.
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The trip, which follows a similar delegation in 2013, was sparked by an invitation from Wollongong’s ‘‘sister city’’, the Chinese province of Longyan, to mark 15 years of friendship between the two cities.
It will also include a trade and tourism mission involving meetings with Australian government officials, visits to Wollongong businesses operating from China and a talk at the University of Wollongong’s newly bought Hong Kong community college.
Council documents indicate it will cost ratepayers about $22,000, which is more expensive than the 2013 trip, as a ‘‘protocol officer’’ and an economic development staffer will join Cr Bradbery.
During the debate on Monday night, Greens councillor George Takacs said only one staff member should accompany the Lord Mayor, as there was no justification from staff about why the second should go.
Liberal councillors Bede Crasnich agreed, saying it was important that the council did not appear to be wasting money.
‘‘I support the Lord Mayor’s trip because 70 per cent of foreign investment in NSW is coming from China and I think it’s important for all levels of government to engage,’’ he said.
‘‘But there’s been some bad media recently about politicians ... and I don’t want to see this organisation being drawn in ... [with people] saying this trip is something it isn’t.’’
In a similar effort to save money, Cr Jill Merrin asked that the delegation travel economy class on their trip, however general manager David Farmer said the council’s policy was to book business class for the lord mayor and premium economy for staff on flights more than five hours long.
Labor’s Ann Martin said she did not support the concept of sister cities at all, and did not think Wollongong needed to send ‘‘a massive delegation’’ to China.
However, acting lord mayor Chris Connor spoke in favour of the two staff members, saying a protocol officer was ‘‘vital’’ as not having one would make the Wollongong delegation appear ‘‘downgraded in the eyes of the Chinese’’.
Cr Connor said this importance was highlighted to him during a recent Chinese delegation visit to Wollongong, when the overseas delegation sprung a surprise gift of a football jersey on him.
‘‘I was able to direct the staff to go out as quickly as they could and organise a Dragons jersey that I could give to reciprocate that gift,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s little things like that that show we are good hosts, and there will be lots of things like that behind the scenes.’’
Liberal councillor Michelle Blicavs agreed, saying the trip should not be about ‘‘penny-pinching’’ but should focus on the opportunities it would bring to the city.
‘‘I actually think we need to send bigger delegations, because these are not junkets, no way, they are tiring exhausting trips ... and this is $22,000 which is hardly anything to be concerned about,’’ Cr Blicavs said.
Councillors eventually voted 9-2 to support the full delegation, with Greg Petty and Cr Martin voting against.
The trip is due to take place in October and November this year.