Council trip called ‘elitist claptrap’

A COUNCIL-FUNDED $15,500 trip to East Timor in January has come under scrutiny at a Hobart City Council meeting — with one alderman describing it as “self-indulgent, elitist claptrap”.

Aldermen Bill Harvey and Helen Burnett and two council officers went on the trip to investigate the potential for a waste and recycling project and a relationship with Balibo.

A report prepared after the trip found there would be challenges associated with the delivery of a waste and recycling project in Balibo, East Timor, because of the sustainability of the project — and also because the lack of potable water was a more pressing problem.

The report recommended the council commit to a longterm relationship with Balibo and a new report be brought back to the council identifying potential projects, delivery partners and associated costs.

Another recommendation called on the council to investigate two projects between Hobart and East Timor: increasing the number of Timorese people working in Tasmanian farms as part of the Federal Government Seasonal Worker Program and facilitating an exchange of hospitality workers from the Agora Food Studio cafe in Dili, the capital of East Timor.

Alderman Tanya Denison, who said ratepayers should not be burdened by the costs associated, described the trip as “self-indulgent, elitist claptrap”.

“Waste and recycling has been dumped in favour of partnering with voluntary organisations that are already well established and doing an excellent job,” Ald Tanya Denison said during the meeting.

“I’m sure this commercial business in Dili will welcome contributions from Hobart ratepayers.

“If particular aldermen want to help Balibo or hang out with the well-connected owners of Agora Cafe in Dili, by all means get involved with Rotary.”

Ald Harvey defended the trip, saying the potential for waste management projects with East Timor in the future was huge.

“But it takes time and takes collaboration and relationship building,” he said.

“I find it extraordinary we get accused of elitism by trying to do something productive in a developing country.”

Ald Anna Reynolds moved a successful amendment to remove the recommendation regarding the seasonal workers and the hospitality worker exchange program.

The motion passed with only Ald Denison and Ald Marti Zucco voting against it.