End to city’s China visits?

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 12 Nov 08

Candidates quizzed on benefits of ‘junkets’

Written by SALLY EVANS.

THE Rural City of Wangaratta may have funded its last trip to China after it was condemned as a junket at a "meet the candidates" night on Monday.

The meeting, organised by the Wangaratta branch of the Victorian Farmers Federation, considered the friendship city relationship with the Wuhzong District and a number of exchange visits between delegates in recent years.

In most cases, ratepayers have foot the bill for airfares and the hosts have covered other expenses including accommodation.

Wangaratta financial counsellor, Alan Gurney, asked the 12 candidates present what the benefits were, if any, of councillors and council staff travelling to China.

"We’re a small town and you’ve got to question the benefit of a councillor going over to China," Mr Gurney said.

"Is it a junket or not?"

Candidate Lauren O’Neill said she didn’t believe that in the current economic climate, and the way people are struggling, council should be spending money on councillors, chief executive officers and partners going overseas.

Cr Rozi Parisotto, who has formed a ticket along with Ms O’Neill, Malcolm McKay and Kerrin Chambers in a bid to win votes in the upcoming election, said the rural city relationship with China has spanned over 11 years, yet she hadn’t seen a strategy or the benefits.

Candidate Lisa McInerney suggested overseas trips should be considered on a case-by-case basis, with more local options being taken into account.

But Cr Bernard Young said the benefits of the friendship agreement have been many and varied, including teacher exchanges for Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE.

"There are already businesses in Wangaratta who deal with the Wuhzong District and China, and they’re obviously not going to declare what they’re doing," he said.

"But they’re happy with that relationship and it’s come about because we have helped build that relationship."

Rural city mayor, Roberto Paino, who was due to travel to China with his wife and council’s chief executive officer last month, only to have the trip cancelled following an earthquake, refuted suggestions the visits to China were junkets.

"I’ve been on one of those visits and you don’t have a minute to yourself," he said.

"Commercial trade opportunities do exist, but it’s not for us to be transparent about those negotiations.

"If we’ve been able to introduce people to the market in China, then we’ve done a good job."

But Mr Gurney was not convinced of the benefits, and said the outcome of the overseas trips should not be subject to confidentiality.

"There’s got to be transparency," he said.

"If someone (from council) goes over, they’re accountable to bring information back for the community.

"But it’s done behind closed doors and what the benefit was, we don’t really know."