Neil Mitchell clashes with Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming over Netherlands ‘junket’

?Neil Mitchell has again clashed with Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming, this time over a European ‘junket.’

Cr Cumming and another councillor will travel to the Netherlands in June for a study tour on cycling.

It’s set to cost ratepayers more than $20,000, possibly more.

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Cr Martin Zakharov voted against the trip for two reasons.

‘Most of the information you’re going to get there, you can get without travelling overseas,’ he told Neil Mitchell.

‘And secondly, if you really can get that much information, would you get more with two people going?’

But Cr Cumming defended the trip.

‘Virtually every other inner-Melbourne council has sent councillors in the past,’ she said.

BELOW: Neil Mitchell and Cr Cumming have clashed before…

She said a fatal crash involving a cyclist at Yarraville last month meant she felt ‘compelled’ to go.

‘Probably a week before the lady who was killed in Yarraville, this was put before me,’ Cr Cumming said on 3AW Mornings.

‘After that death, I actually feel compelled that myself and my council have to do something.’

But Neil Mitchell hit back.

‘Are you serious? It’s awful this woman has died, but I hardly see it as justification for a junket to the Netherlands,’ he said.

Click PLAY below to hear their exchange on 3AW Mornings