Rob Wilson's trip to Malta

A trip to Malta has created a local controversy in Australia. Sarah Schwager writes for Berwick News and the Star News Group:

Casey deputy mayor Rob Wilson is packing his bags for Malta. Despite Casey Council previously refusing to fund the trip, councillors voted at Tuesday’s meeting to pay for some of Cr Wilson’s expenses when he travels overseas this month for the Fifth International Conference on Waste Management and the Environment. Cr Wilson backed down on the request for council to pay his airfare and will now pay most of the expenses himself.

Council will pay for his accommodation and conference registration, which will come out of his Training and Education budget allowance. Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said the deputy mayor’s attendance at the conference could significantly benefit the council in terms of waste reduction and other new waste management research.“By attending, we will be keeping up with the latest in the field,” Cr Morland said..

A motion for council to fund Cr Wilson’s trip to Malta was rejected last December. A motion that conference registration, accommodation and transfers be funded by council came up again in April, but was withdrawn without any explanation. Springfield Ward councillor Michael Farley said despite previously stating he would not support overseas trips for councillors, the fact that Cr Wilson would pay his own airfare and that the issue of waste management was so important had swayed his vote...