Harper Sercombe
Hume council has approved the travel costs of two councillors to Timor-Leste later this year.
Mayor Joseph Haweil and councillor Naim Kurt are intending on travelling to the south-east Asian country in October as part of the ‘Friends of Adieu’ program.
The travel has been approved at the cost of a maximum of $5000 per councillor, which includes travel, accommodation and expenses.
At a council meeting on Monday, July 24, councillor Karen Sherry, who went on the same trip in 2019, said it is an important trip.
“The exchange and the learnings are numerous and it really does inject goodwill into that province, which is still establishing its governance,” she said.
However, councillor Trevor Dance said he “can’t really see any benefits… to the wider community.”
“I would have liked to [have] gone as well but I’d be using my own money to save ratepayers,” he said.
Councillor Jack Medcraft disagreed with Cr Dance as he said those in Timor-Leste need assistance from people who are better off than what they are.
“I think it’s a human right to be treated as human, and maybe there’s some business acumen that might help them to get themselves up and running,” he said.
