00:03A multicultural city to beat its own drum abroad with the Darwin Council delegation heading to Asia.
00:11We will be taking approximately 10 businesses and those businesses range from construction, property, housing, tourism.
00:19Led by Lord Mayor Peter Stiles, the trade mission will jet to southern China and Vietnam in December.
00:26The trip will cost approximately $18,000 but the economic impact of these types of trade missions can lead to
00:34approximately $250,000 per annum coming into the economy.
00:38Six months after hitting Darwin residents with a 5.5% rate rise and the delay of its annual hard
00:46rubbish collection, not every resident is getting on board.
00:50What do you think about the Council's decision to head to China and Vietnam?
00:54I think it's probably not a good idea because we need, you know, the rates have just been put up
01:00and we need more interest in rate throws and rubbish.
01:04They should focus on us before taking care of other people first.
01:08It just seems to be a bit of a waste of money really.
01:10This former Darwin Lord Mayor believes the Council's at risk of seeming out of touch with rate payers.
01:17If Council's not being open and explicit about the benefits and the reasons for these sorts of things then naturally
01:23people are just going to think it's another junket.
01:25This is definitely not a junket for the Mayor and for the Council.
01:28It's an important economic opportunity for Darwin as a capital city.
01:31Lord Mayor Peter Stiles is a former Asian Engagement Minister with the NT Government and has also held private consultancy
01:39firms in the same field.
01:41The Council was asked whether it saw that as a possible conflict of interest or a benefit to its upcoming
01:47trade mission.
01:48It is yet to formally respond.
01:50It is yet to formally respond.
