International Eddy rings up hefty bill
A GEELONG councillor says the provision of international roaming accounts for why his mobile phone bill is more than double that of any of the other 10 councillors.
Ten of the 11 City of Greater Geelong councillors — including Mayor Bruce Harwood — are on a monthly $26.36 plan, giving a yearly bill figure of $329.12 to date including a $65.52 annual fee.
However, Cr Eddy Kontelj has a 2018/19 bill of $707.31 up until the end of March 2019.
Cr Kontelj busted his $26.36 monthly limit five times so far this financial year with monthly bills of $82.03 in September 2018, $94.45 in November 2018, $98.76 in January 2019, $68.40 in February 2019 and a massive $166.35 in March 2019.
Cr Kontelj says he has been provided with international roaming while travelling overseas which allows him to continue carrying out his council duties.
“One of the things I’ve learnt both in business and in local government is that customers and residents expect their councillors to be available and accessible,” he said.
“As a result of that, since I was elected in 2010 I’ve never put an out of office notification of any of my devices.
“That way, when I travel (overseas) either for personal reasons or work, I make myself available.
“Being available like that sometimes comes at a slightly higher cost because you have to have international roaming for those times when you go Average yearly bill for councillors ... $ 329 each Eddy Kontelj (for the financial year to March 2019) .....................$ 707 overseas. So what I do with my council phone is try and get a package, which is generally $10 a day, and that allows me to continue to communicate with constituents and anyone else during that period of time.”
Cr Kontelj, who was last year appointed as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia, said he has never travelled overseas in that role.
Rebecca Leonard, City of Greater Geelong director governance, strategy and performance, said it was important that councillors were supported to carry out their civic duties.
“The city supplies all councillors with a smart phone with mobile data and telephone network access, in accordance with council policy,” she said.
“In line with the policy, Cr Kontelj has been provided with international roaming while travelling overseas.
“This has allowed him to continue to carry out his council duties while away.”
Invoices beyond March 2019 have not yet been received.