• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Call for help after donation drop
  • True passion the source of author inspiration
  • OAM for ‘Coodabeens’ Bill Baxter
  • Help Deana on her way
  • New CFA vehicle honours service
  • Young Victorian award for eco visionary
  • Home services crisis after switch to private providers
  • Riding a wave for therapy
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Competition
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Council Watch»CEO’s trip top draw on gift list
Council Watch

CEO’s trip top draw on gift list

By Keith PlattApril 30, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

THE entry made by CEO Carl Cowie on Mornington Peninsula Shire’s gifts register is by far the most valuable yet recorded.

Mr Cowie’s estimated value of a Mediterranean cruise undertaken by he and his wife at the invitation of businessman Lindsay Fox is recorded as being $8400.

The next highest is $1202 for return airfares to Sydney, dinner and accommodation for the shire’s chief information officer to attend a Dell EMC forum in August 2017.

The lowest amount recorded on 10 pages of the register from 4 September 2015 to 19 December 2017 is $2, for a cloth glasses case and $2 for a necklace given by the Friends of Los Palos to the mayor and council support officer (“Airfares, AFL, wine and chocolates on gifts list” The News 27.3.18).

Mr Cowie’s July 2016 cruise was not added to the register until last week (“CEO cruise makes gifts list” The News 24/4/18).

The $8400 cruise is equally apportioned between Mr Cowie and his wife.

Mr Cowie has previously made it clear he did not think the trip – known as Mr Fox’s “conception cruise” – should be on the register as it was “a matter … between the CEO and the inviter. It was paid for fully by the CEO, the shire incurred no expense and therefore it was not required to be placed on the gift register”.

Mr Fox is generally regarded as one of the peninsula’s most high profile property owners as were several others of his guests.

The shire’s Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality policy states: “Gifts, benefits and hospitality received must not create a real or perceived sense of obligation that may lead to a perception of preference or conflict.”

The mayor and former CEO at several municipalities, Cr Bryan Payne, has previously said he thought the cruise should be declared on the gifts register.

He has also said that as a CEO he would not have accepted such an invitation.

The Seabourn Odyssey cruise ship chartered by Mr Fox can carry 450 passengers (guests, according to the shipping line’s advertising) in 225 luxury suites (“creating the highest space-per-guest ratio in the industry”).

Bookings for a seven-day Athens, Greece, to Venice, Italy, cruise on the ship in July this year are being available at between $5798 and $12,998, depending on which cabin or suite is required.

The ship can be privately chartered for about $200,000 a day.

The gifts registers are publicly available by contacting the shire’s governance team on 1300 850 600 to arrange an appointment for inspection.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 1 May 2018

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Keeping watch on councillor costs

June 27, 2022

Leadership lacking for ‘neutral’ policy

June 20, 2022

Four more years, CEO gets the job

June 20, 2022

Lack of evidence to back ‘rules’ action

June 14, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
Jul 4, 2022 - Mon
Mornington, Australia
13°C
clear sky
clear sky
1 m/s, S
61%
769.57 mmHg
mon07/04 tue07/05 wed07/06 thu07/07 fri07/08
light rain
12/10°C
sky is clear
12/9°C
sky is clear
10/9°C
light rain
11/11°C
light rain
12/10°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

June 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Council Watch

Keeping watch on councillor costs

June 27, 2022

Leadership lacking for ‘neutral’ policy

June 20, 2022
Interview

True passion the source of author inspiration

July 4, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Railway Commissioners’ visit to the peninsula

June 28, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Competition
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.