Local councils would be better off working in conjunction with both the state and federal government, rather than taking it upon themselves to go on international business trips, according to Minister for Local Government, Natalie Hutchins.

‘I don’t think they need their own foreign affairs department…they’re competeting against each other.’ she told 3AW Drive.

RELATED: Tom Elliot slams Casey City Council’s ‘nonsensical’ trip to China

‘If councillors are going to use rate-payers money to do these trips, they need to be very accountable when they come back and say what they’ve done.’ she said

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