Waste of money claim over Oz trip

Canberra has been official residence of Australian prime ministers since 1927

Plans to send a publicly-funded official from Wales to Australia for 10 months to examine how rubbish is recycled have stirred a political row.

Conservatives claim it is a waste of money to send Anna Richards, of Waste Awareness Wales (WAW), to Canberra.

Tory AM Darren Millar said it was ironic someone responsible for waste awareness was wasting public money.

But the assembly government says it will not cost the taxpayer anything extra.

Waste Awareness Wales is a publicly-funded body which promotes waste management as Wales faces tough targets for recycling.

The Australian capital currently recycles 70% of its refuse and is aiming for 90%.

It is ironic that an individual responsible for waste awareness in Wales is being allowed to waste public money in this way Darren Millar AM, Conservative

Ms Richards's stay in Australia is designed to see how Canberra is reaching these levels.

But Mr Millar, who speaks for the Tories on the environment, said it was astonishing that public funding was available for such a prolonged placement.

Mr Millar said he would be tabling a question to Environment Minister Jane Davidson to find out the cost of the placement.

"It is ironic that an individual responsible for waste awareness in Wales is being allowed to waste public money in this way. No doubt this is going to be a very expensive venture," he added.

But the move has been supported by Cylch, the Wales recycling network, whose chief executive, Mal Williams, said: "I am very pleased to hear the announcement that Waste Awareness Wales is having the foresight and vision to do this.

"Canberra is at the cutting edge of recycling and there will be lots for our emissary to learn that will help Wales reach the 70% target set recently by the incoming Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson."

Invest time

An assembly government spokesman could not disclose how much the placement will cost, but said it would come out of WAW's budget.

In a statement the assembly government said: "A Waste Awareness Wales manager will be working in Australia to lead a research project that will play an important role to gathering information to help Wales to achieve its targets for recycling and composting.

"This secondment provides WAW with a useful chance to invest time in researching and developing a long-term approach that will support the assembly government and its partners throughout Wales."

Wales must hit a target for recycling 40% of rubbish by 2010 and tougher EU targets will follow.