Town rejects $100k forum price tag

The Town of Port Hedland has rejected claims by the Port Hedland Ratepayers Association it is spending $100,000 to send councillors to the EASTxWEST Forum in China in April.

Organised by the Pilbara Regional Council, the forum will be held in the Chinese city of Shenzhen alongside the Federal Government’s Australia Week in China trade and investment delegation.

Town of Port Hedland Mayor Kelly Howlett said chief executive Mal Osborne and councillors Jan Gillingham, David Hooper, Julie Arif and Troy Melville planned to attend at a total cost to the town of $12,763.

She said this covered event registrations, Port Hedland to Perth flights, accommodation in Perth and cab charges and allowances.

Event registrations cost $1500 per delegate attending.

Organisers the PRC said they had also locked in sponsors to cover more than two-thirds of the event’s expenses.