Melbourne Mayor defends councillors’ $30k trip to Paris climate summit

The Mayor of Melbourne has defended forking out $31,000 to send councillors to the Paris climate summit.

Speaking to Neil Mitchell on 3AW Mornings, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the councillors could bring back well-researched, effective and new ideas for the City of Melbourne to consider.

‘My friend Mike Bloomberg [Mayor of New York] says cities act, nations talk,’ he said. 

Environment portfolio chairman Cr Arron Wood, Greens councillor Cathy Oke and a council officer were all sent to the conference. 

My Doyle said he believed Cr Oke chose to fly economy, and would be using Air BnB for accommodation rather than luxury hotels.