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-anno...

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





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!

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


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

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?????

Who was the last Labor Mayor of Melbourne City Council ?

and will you please STOP shouting :