Councillor lashes TRC over NZ, China trips

TOOWOOMBA Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan has taken aim at the council about two trips, which she said would cost about $30,000. The council will send delegations to New Zealand and China in June and November.

TOOWOOMBA councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan has again fired up about upcoming council trips overseas, saying residents considered them a “waste of money”.

Cr O’Hara Sullivan slammed the TRC’s decision to send council delegations to New Zealand in June and China in November, at an estimated cost of $30,000.

She took issue with councillors who last week described the trips as hard work.

“I understand the importance of fostering international relations, but I took particular exception to the comments (last week) around the trips being hard work,” she said.

“I know they are long hours, but I’d defy you to tell me that the guy who opens the newsagency at 2am, or the nurse doing a night shift at the hospital or the guy digging a hole every day (is not) doing hard work.

“There was something about that (that made me) stand up for those people who think in our community that there is a bit of a waste of money.”

Mayor Paul Antonio hit back at the comments in the meeting, saying that Asian business culture required personal representation in many cases.

“I think the advantages we get out of overseas travel is enormous and I’ll certainly be inviting you to come,” he said.