Casey backflip on Wreford trip

By Cam Scott
CASEY councillors have approved travel for Strathard Ward councillor Lorraine Wreford amid fears they would set a precedent for their own travel requests to be blocked.
That was the message from an animated Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford at last week’s council meeting after his colleagues reversed a previous decision to stop Cr Wreford attending the Going Public Conference for Women in the Public Sector and Politics, which will be held in Sydney next month.
Oatlands Ward councillor Mick Morland reignited the issue by calling for councillors to authorise Cr Wreford and Casey’s director of community services Jennie Lee to attend the conference.
When the request was first brought to council early this month, it resulted in claims of political bias, sexism and waste of council funds between councillors Wreford and Bradford. The council then knocked back the travel request.
This time around the result was positive for Cr Wreford, with Cr Morland saying that the conference had fine key speakers and was a great opportunity to learn.
“This is a very, very worthwhile conference to attend,” he said.
“This will be of great benefit to our councillors, to our staff and to our residents.”
Cr Bradford slammed Cr Morland’s move to authorise the conference, saying he was only reintroducing the issue because he and other councillors were scared of setting a precedent for refusal of travel.
“There is a culture around this council that says join Casey Council and you go to see the world. Sooner or later there needs to be a time when this council gets serious,” he said.
Cr Bradford said that because the request fell within council policy didn’t mean it should be automatically approved.
“And that’s why all the councillors around here are scared that they’ll be rejected.”
Cr Bradford also rejected claims he was acting in a sexist manner, saying he had authorised Cr Wreford to attend the same conference last year, but was unconvinced she would provide any great benefit to council or Casey residents by again attending this year.
“This council needs to take stock of itself,” Cr Bradford said.
Cr Wreford said it was important that councillors were able to professionally develop themselves when good opportunities arose.
“Since my time in Casey Council I’ve been an advocate for women’s issues and will continue to do so,” she said.
“As we can see there’s a few (women) lacking around the table.”