Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn forced to defend China trip over questions from council on funding, purpose

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn has faced firm questioning from councillors over the purpose and funding of his holiday to China. Mr Van Styn was forced to defend the trip and shut down speculation the City would be financially contributing to the trip at last month’s council meeting. “It is not in any way being funded by The City of Greater Geraldton,” he said. Deputy Mayor and mayoral candidate Jerry Clune asked Mr Van Styn to explain why he hadn’t consulted the council before accepting an offer to visit China for a conference as a guest speaker. Cr Clune went on to ask if the trip aligned with sister city relationships and if the City would be expected to reciprocate this offer. Mr Van Styn, who has just returned from the trip, said of 11 days he would be in the country, he would not be visiting Geraldton’s sister city, two days would be spent at a conference attending as a guest speaker and two days spent “visiting an old friend” who works at a plant which processes Karara’s iron ore. “I am happily taking the time, at my own cost, on my holiday to visit this facility as well as speak with other people on this,” he said to the council. The remaining seven days are “entirely of a personal nature with no formalities at all. It is a personal holiday with my fiancee in Xian Beijing and Shanghai, again, at my own cost”. “I don’t feel I have to ask permission to take annual leave, but I do acknowledge that I am presenting at a conference.” The council’s concerns stemmed from the trip not involving Geraldton’s sister city, Zhanjiang. Cr Michael Reymond sought clarification on whether the City needed to notify China of Mr Van Styn’s presence in line with a previous policy. Mr Van Styn said: “I don’t think I am that big a deal. Noting also the policy has been retired.” Cr Bob Hall closed the questioning by requesting an itinerary of activities “in the interest of community liaison”. Mr Van Styn happily obliged. Mr Van Styn is overseas for the beginning of the local government election campaign. He is being challenged in the mayoral race by Cr Clune, anti-vaccine mandate protester Aaron Horsman and Mr Van Styn’s former fiancee Tammy Croasdale.