LIBERAL Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has racked up a private bar bill of almost $10,000 in a single year.

Documents obtained through Freedom of Information reveal councillors and council staff spent $209,816 on food and alcohol in the 12 months to March this year.

The council's total alcohol bill was more than $44,245.

The cost of restocking the private bar in the Lord Mayor's office with beer, wine and spirits was $9652.66.

It included $1142 spent in March last year, $1163 last June and in October included six bottles of Bendigo shiraz at a cost of $144.

More ratepayer funds were used to buy a steady supply of chips and nuts for the office.

Councillors also have their own "refreshment room" where drinks are available free of charge.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/town-halls-refresher-course/story-e6frf7kx-1225973226903

LIBERAL Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, elected on a no-junkets pledge, is packing his bags for a round-the-world jaunt promoting Melbourne's "green credentials".
Cr Doyle will visit Toronto, Paris and New York this month, and then fly to Singapore on a second international trip in June.

Ratepayers will fork out $5400 for the first two-week trip, with Cr Doyle saying the biggest share of the tab - including flights - was being picked up by his hosts.

Late this month, Cr Doyle will visit Paris, France, for an Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) international “round-table” of mayors and ministers.

Next, heading across the Atlantic, he will attend a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Toronto, before heading to the US to visit New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Melbourne ratepayers will cover Cr Doyle’s New York accommodation.

Today’s announcement follows revelations by the Herald Sun that city ratepayers paid more than $50,000 for Cr Doyle’s trip to Copenhagen for global climate talks in December and a stop-off in London.

During that trip Cr Doyle stayed in a $1200-a-night hotel suite while in Copenhagen.

Invoices show Cr Doyle stayed in an “extra-large lifestyle suite” at one of the Danish capital's hippest hotels for five nights during the climate summit in December.

His boutique lodgings were far more lavish than those of federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, whose room cost hundreds of dollars less per night, bills obtained using Freedom of Information laws show.

And the Lord Mayor's suite cost about three times more than the combined bill for two modest rooms hired for Victorian Government representatives at the talks.

Cr Doyle, who was elected on a promise to clamp down on junkets, travelled business class to Copenhagen and London with his chief of staff, Alister Paterson, and his strategic adviser, Amelia Bitsis.

While in London, Cr Doyle stayed at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Churchill, where his room was upgraded from standard to “Club King” at ratepayer expense.


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/no-junket-lord-mayor-robert-doyle-announces-world-tour-to-paris-toronto-and-new-york/story-e6frf7kx-1225861519852

This is what annoys me most, the absolute waste of taxpayers money on unnecessary excesses, from the bottom all the way to the top rung. This is the sort of waste that should be stopped, also the money given to sporting organisations. The money is urgently needed for housing.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Dec 19^th, 2010 at 5:28am:

This is what annoys me most, the absolute waste of taxpayers money on unnecessary excesses, from the bottom all the way to the top rung. This is the sort of waste that should be stopped, also the money given to sporting organisations. The money is urgently needed for housing.

we cant blame Cr Doyle unfortunately.. as appalling as it is...

ITS THE SYSTEMS WE ALLOW THEM TO CREATE..

it is the same all over this stupid stupid country.. and all we do on this forum is bring it back to POLITICS..

you can betcha there are plenty of LABOR mayors doing the same thing.

why do we send uneducated unimportant councillors all over the world on supposed education trips..this just doesnt happen on city councils it happens on every tin pot council as well... one cap fits all remember.

we allow them to make these rules all very cosy and neat.. hidden away so we couldnt find them if we had the nouce to look for them.

what about a Royal Commission into greed at the top level of govts...

even incompetence we seem to have plenty of that as well.

I would drink to that!

And get THIS one ...




Quote:

Melbourne, the brand, has been given a $240,000 facelift and the result is a big M.Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has unveiled a new logo for the city, which will replace the previous M and leaf symbol introduced in the early 1990s. Cr Doyle said the old logo was "a bit daggy" and Melbourne needed a new design to reflect its cool sophistication on the world stage. "The world's changed, the city of Melbourne has changed, this organisation has changed as well, and we're now playing far more, not just on the national stage but also on the international stage," Cr Doyle said. Preliminary research for the new brand cost the council $91,000 and the design itself cost $148,000, Cr Doyle said. http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbournes-240000-makeover-20090722-dt0o.html

This, from the former Victorian Opposition Leader who was elected as Melbourne's Lord Mayor - on a platform of "end the waste and the junkets"

buzzanddidj wrote on Dec 19^th, 2010 at 7:58am:

And get THIS one ... Quote: Melbourne, the brand, has been given a $240,000 facelift and the result is a big M.Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has unveiled a new logo for the city, which will replace the previous M and leaf symbol introduced in the early 1990s. Cr Doyle said the old logo was "a bit daggy" and Melbourne needed a new design to reflect its cool sophistication on the world stage. "The world's changed, the city of Melbourne has changed, this organisation has changed as well, and we're now playing far more, not just on the national stage but also on the international stage," Cr Doyle said. Preliminary research for the new brand cost the council $91,000 and the design itself cost $148,000, Cr Doyle said. http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbournes-240000-makeover-20090722-dt0o.html This, from the former Victorian Opposition Leader who was elected as Melbourne's Lord Mayor - on a platform of "end the waste and the junkets"

--------------

and what about this doozy from the ever efficient NSW govt.

firies defend rebranding plan costs20:17 AEST Fri Dec 17 20101 day 12 hours 49 minutes ago ShareVIEWS: 0| FLOCKS: 0| 0 comments so far
NSW Firies will get a new name, reflecting the fact they often do more rescuing than fire fighting.



Claims that rebranding the NSW Fire Brigades will cost the state millions of dollars are incorrect and "ill advised", firies say.

Opposition Emergency Services spokeswoman Melinda Pavey on Friday said changing the name to Fire and Rescue NSW would cost taxpayers $15 million.

But NSWFB Commissioner Greg Mullins said the rebranding would be "cost neutral", as logos will be changed gradually and existing stationery will be exhausted before it is replaced.

"The claim that changing our name to Fire and Rescue NSW will cost millions is incorrect and ill advised," Mr Mullins said.

"It is disappointing that inaccurate claims about cost are being repeated on what is an historic day for the organisation."

From January 1, NSW Fire Brigades will be renamed Fire and Rescue NSW, reflecting the fact that firies often do more rescuing than fire fighting.

Ms Pavey said the idea the rebranding would be cost neutral was "laughable".

Changing the branding of all Fire Brigades' assets including vehicles, stations and uniforms would cost around $15 million, she said.

"This rebranding exercise won't stop people referring to our much-loved and respected firefighters as 'firies'," she said.

But NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan said it was time to acknowledge the new role firies play.

"The name Fire Brigades was coined 100 years ago and reflected the service for a long time, but today's hardworking firefighters do much more than just put out fires," he said.

Last year alone firefighters attended more than 9800 non fire related rescues, which was equivalent to around one rescue every hour, he added.



cost neutral from the NSW govt... he is taking us for fools..


anyone for one upmanship?????

Why is the ONLY defence for Liberal Party government failings ...

"Yeah - but what about NSW"



It ONLY serves to validate the indulgence and incoptetence of ALL colours and levels of government

Who was the last Labor Mayor of Melbourne City Council ?

and will you please STOP shouting :

nichy wrote on Dec 19^th, 2010 at 10:41am:

Who was the last Labor Mayor of Melbourne City Council ?

In the past, the position of Lord Mayor has been filled by a non-politically aligned independent

The last being, John So - for a record three terms



Quote:

So's popularity in office resulted in him being named World Mayor for 2006. He won the contest ahead of Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen and Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed. World Mayor cited, amongst other things, the successful staging of the 2006 Commonwealth Games and So's popularity among the young population of Melbourne as a reason for his victory. In its verdict, the judging panel described So as "possibly the first city leader to enjoy 'cult status'". So told the media he was "delighted to be elected World Mayor 2006" and that "the honour belongs to the amazing people of this wonderful city and the hard working team at the City of Melbourne"