COUNCIL SPLIT ON AIR MAYOR
GEELONG Mayor Bruce Harwood will head overseas next week after councillors backed another ratepayerfunded trip to Malaysia.
In a split vote, Kylie Grzybek and Eddy Kontelj expressed opposition to the return trip, which comes just a fortnight after the council was previously in Kuala Lumpur.
Since Cr Harwood and CEO Martin Cutter’s talks with AirAsia officials last week, the council has been invited to attend an official launch of the airline’s direct flights to Avalon.
Cr Harwood will next week spend two nights in the Malaysian capital, where he will speak at the launch and do local media interviews.
Chairing discussion on the merits of the $1900 trip last night, Cr Harwood refrained from offering his own views.
However, deputy mayor Peter Murrihy took the lead on the debate, lashing out at what he perceived was “significant negative press” about the issue.
He also tried to suggest that the Geelong Advertiser’s reporting was an attempt to plunge the city back into its dark ‘Sleepy Hollow’ past.
Cr Murrihy said people “should be rejoicing in the fact that Geelong is being represented” at AirAsia’s launch.
“I don’t think there should be any criticism (of the trip) at all,” he said.
His stern demeanour didn’t deter Cr Grzybek, who expressed concerns over the short turnaround from last week’s visit to Kuala Lumpur.
“It is a bit disappointing they weren’t linked up — but that’s not our doing,” she said.
Cr Kontelj also felt “uncomfortable” with the short notice of the event, which will be held next Tuesday.
“I thought we would have known about it further out,” he said.
Cr Anthony Aitken said the council’s transparent policy of discussing the merits of any overseas travel at an open meeting recognised the issue was divisive in the community.
He voted in favour, stating the significance of the event overruled any concerns over the timing.
Also in support was Jim Mason, who indicated that the Mayor’s absence would not help diplomatic relations with Malaysia.
Geelong Advertiser polls, conducted across the outlet’s website and Facebook, yesterday delivered a resounding verdict on the trip.
Just 83 of the 502 respondents — about 16.5 per cent — voted in favour of ratepayers footing the bill for Cr Harwood to return to Malaysia.