Melton council has come under fire for “wasting” ratepayer money on an extravagant overseas conference in Mexico.
Watts ward councillor Lara Carli has criticised the council for spending about $14,000 on a UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) conference, which she labelled a “junket”.
At their meeting last week, councillors Bob Turner, Myles Bentley and Kathy Majdlik gave approval for mayor Sophie Ramsey, chief executive Kel Tori, and Lifelong Learning officer Peter Blunden to attend the conference from September 28-30.
Only four of Melton’s seven councillors voted; two were absent and Cr Ramsey left the room. For a motion to be passed, a simple majority of those present is all that is required.
“I’d like to know how our community would be disadvantaged if the mayor and CEO didn’t attend,” said Cr Carli, who voted against it.
“What would they bring back? I don’t think spending that money can be justified; it’s a waste of ratepayer money.”
The UIL invited Melton to its second international conference on “learning cities” because the agenda features a case study on Melton, which, it says, has been a “trailblazer” in lifelong learning efforts.
According to the conference website, a “learning city” is one which promotes inclusive learning from basic to higher education, revitalises learning in families and communities, facilitates learning in the workplace and “fosters a culture of learning throughout life”.
Cr Ramsey said she saw many benefits of attending conferences and collaborating with other mayors, describing the experiences as invaluable.
“[In Mexico], countries from all around the world that have focused on learning will share knowledge, share resources and exchange ideas,” she said.
“[Being invited] puts Melton on the international stage. To create those [community learning] tools takes time and effort and we’re still at the early stages, but to get that sort of recognition from UNESCO is a huge honour.”
Cambridge, Coburn and Watts Ward Residents Association committee member Nathan Miles questioned the “$14,000 benefit” the conference would bring to the community, saying he was outraged the council was wasting ratepayers’ money while increasing rates.
“The council continues to gouge residents for rates rather than looking at what they’re spending money on,” he said.
“Wasting ratepayers money to go to Mexico is outrageous. What benefit will that trip bring to the community?”
In the nine months to April, councillors Nola Dunn, Turner, Ramsey and Majdlik were reimbursed more than $25,600 for conference, seminars and training expenses.
And in June, Cr Ramsey and Mr Tori attended the three-day national general assembly of local government in Canberra at a cost of $5200 to ratepayers.
Cr Carli said she didn’t see the benefits of conferences and had never been to one.
But Mr Tori said: “We’re proud to have been invited to represent the City of Melton at an international level.
“Attendance at the conference will build on relationships with member countries and provide an opportunity to share learning on sustainability and cultural exchanges.
“The conference will also be an opportunity to speak to other world leaders in lifelong learning and learn more about best practice in the field.”
