Western Australia's Local Government Minister, Hannah Beazley, has declared herself "very concerned" about the escalating governance crisis at the City of Perth, confirming she is actively seeking advice on how to intervene.
A Council in Chaos
The situation reached a boiling point last month when Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds tabled an urgent motion for a workplace culture review. Councillors were given a mere six minutes to consider the proposal before a vote was called. Despite widespread acknowledgment that there was inadequate time for proper scrutiny, the motion passed with a 6-3 majority.
The controversy deepened just two days later, when Councillor Catherine Lezer formally moved for the decision to be reconsidered. In a damning assessment, the council's own acting CEO, Peta Mabbs, authored a report declaring the adopted motion "unlawful and flawed." Mabbs has since resigned from her position, further destabilising the council's administration.
Residents Demand Ministerial Action
The internal disarray has not gone unnoticed by the community, with frustrated residents already writing to Minister Beazley to express their outrage. In one letter obtained by PerthNow, a resident conveyed "serious concern" and "dismay" at the conduct of both the Lord Mayor and his deputy, explicitly calling for them to be "stood down."
Another letter pleaded with the minister to "stop the ham-fisted actions" of the Lord Mayor, describing the council's embarrassing series of crises. "As a long-term resident/ratepayer in the City of Perth, I am ashamed to see our council lurch from one crisis to another," the letter stated, concluding with a desperate, "Please act soon."
New Powers on the Horizon
Minister Beazley, in comments to PerthNow and ABC Radio, confirmed she has referred the matter to the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety for official advice. She emphasised her track record of taking decisive action when empowered to do so.
Looking forward, a new mechanism for dealing with such local government failures is set to begin on January 1, 2026. The newly established Office of the Inspector, led by Tony Brown, will be equipped with new powers to intervene early in situations of poor governance and provide immediate support and guidance.
"Local governments need to get their house in order," Ms Beazley stated, referencing the Inspector's imminent commencement. The next critical point in this ongoing saga is scheduled for December 9, when the council is set to debate Cr Lezer's motion for reconsideration.
