Disaster relief a touchy subject

By Shaun Inguanzo
GREATER Dandenong council will not donate money to emergency aid efforts in China and Burma.
Springvale Central Ward councillor Youhorn Chea had put forward a notice of motion that the council donate $10,000 to relief efforts in those countries via the Australian Red Cross.
He said $5000 would go to each country.
Cr Chea told the gallery that the City of Greater Dandenong was one of the most multicultural cities in Australia and contained Burmese and Chinese born residents.
“It is common practice when we have disasters for our city council to donate to people who suffer,” Cr Chea said.
But the motion was stopped short by Springvale South Ward councillor Yvonne Herring who said the money could be better spent in the city, which was itself in need of the funds.
“It is very generous of the council to give out ratepayers’ money, but the last time we gave donations to overseas countries I had people ringing me up and complaining because it was their rate money we were spending overseas when we should be spending it here in our city,” she said.
“It is not our role to send money overseas when those countries are already getting money from our State and Federal Governments.”
Cr Herring was supported by the majority of councillors, and the motion was defeated six votes to four, with councillor Pinar Yesil absent.