Tasmania’s balance-of-power Speaker, former Hobart lord mayor Sue Hickey, claimed thousands of dollars from the Hobart City Council for an overseas trip where she represented a business group.
Ms Hickey, a Liberal who has the casting vote in state parliament after voting with Labor to install herself as independent Speaker, was a business representative on a premier’s trade delegation to China and South Korea in September 2013.
The former businesswoman was then a Hobart alderman, but the council did not include her on its delegation, which was limited to then-lord mayor Damon Thomas and a staff member.
Instead, the council released a press statement before the trip, which ran from September 9 to 14, stressing that Ms Hickey was taking part as a representative of the Hobart Chamber of Commerce.
But the chamber had no relevant insurance cover and so the council arranged for its insurer to cover Ms Hickey, who fell ill in South Korea, leading the council to claim $11,424 for her associated costs. Council general manager Nick Heath directed the council staff member travelling with Mr Thomas to remain in South Korea to look after Ms Hickey and accompany her home.
Ms Hickey yesterday conceded ratepayers footed a bill of $1834 for costs associated with the staff member’s extended travel, “over and above” the amount covered by the council’s insurance …
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