Opposition blasts Brisbane City Council’s Paris 2024 travel bill

Brisbane City Council’s Labor opposition has questioned why the Schrinner administration decided to send almost as many people to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as the state government, despite not being directly responsible for Games delivery in 2032.

The council’s civic cabinet, chaired by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, approved travel for deputy mayor Krista Adams, Central Ward councillor Vicki Howard and three senior council officers to go to Paris for a total cost of $123,500.

It was understood Adams would pay for her own flights, as she already had plans to be overseas on personal travel.

Labor opposition leader Jared Cassidy said it was right that, as a future host city, Brisbane be represented at the Paris Games.

“If the Lord Mayor was travelling to represent our city, it would be very difficult for me to argue against that,” he said.

“But this, what we’ve got before us today, looks like a junket.”

The state government, which was ultimately responsible for Games delivery, is sending a similarly sized delegation to Paris.

A spokesperson for the Brisbane 2032 Coordination Office said a total of seven people, including Governor Jeannette Young, would be going to Paris to participate in official Olympic and Paralympic programs.

“These representatives are from across government taking in perspectives including transport and police,” they said.

“Two representatives, including the Governor of Queensland, will participate in the official Olympic Family Program.”

The final expenditure for these would not be disclosed until Queensland government annual reports for the current financial year were released.

A spokeswoman for Schrinner said Brisbane would be represented at Paris, “just like the state government, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast councils”.

“Along with being the main host city, Brisbane will also be home to many venues during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it’s important we learn from other host cities to ensure we can contribute to planning the best Games ever,” she said.

Cassidy said Labor would accept “some travel” for the Paris Games, but not that amount.

“This is ridiculous, especially when we have just finished debating in the council chamber this week – at 10:30pm on Tuesday night – a 20 per cent cut to the supply of concrete for basic council services over the next two years,” he said.

“That’s less footpaths being delivered, less drainage projects, less curving and channelling.

“We’re seeing contractors laid off, we’re seeing staff who are exiting the organisation not being replaced because of cutbacks on one hand, but then the international travel bill’s shooting up.

“I just think that the priorities are really wrong at the moment on this stuff.”

Last month, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli was at pains to point out that the cost of her travel to Paris would come out of her own pocket.

However, on Wednesday, Sunshine Coast Council announced it would pay $7500 for Natoli’s accommodation in Paris.

“Am I greatly disappointed that the accommodations cost will not be covered as we originally thought? Yes absolutely,” Natoli said.

A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said they would be sending four representatives to Paris, including Mayor Tom Tate.