Stirling Mayor Withdraws Appeal Against Conduct Ruling
City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin has formally withdrawn his appeal against a ruling that found he made improper use of his official position during a council meeting exchange. This decision means the mayor must now comply with the original orders issued by the Local Government Standards Panel, which include making a public apology for his conduct.
Background of the Standards Panel Investigation
The Local Government Standards Panel determined in July last year that Mayor Irwin had committed two minor breaches of local government regulations. These breaches stemmed from an exchange with resident Simon Wheeler during public question time at a council meeting held in June 2024. The discussion centered on the contentious Scarborough-to-Trigg coastal boardwalk proposal, specifically regarding $500,000 allocated for a feasibility study into the project.
According to reports from the standards panel, the exchange between Mayor Irwin and Mr Wheeler escalated quickly, with both parties exchanging insults. The panel acknowledged that Mr Wheeler made statements that might have irritated the mayor, but ultimately found that Mayor Irwin let his personal attitude affect his professional neutrality. The specific comment that triggered the formal complaint was when the mayor used the term "hypocrisy" toward Mr Wheeler during their discussion.
Withdrawal of the Appeal Process
Mayor Irwin had initially appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the panel's order. However, on January 30, just days before a scheduled preliminary hearing set for February 4, the mayor formally withdrew his appeal. This withdrawal means the original findings and orders from the Local Government Standards Panel now stand without further challenge.
The standards panel had previously determined that Mayor Irwin should have concluded the discussion after answering the initial question about the feasibility study funding. Instead, the exchange continued and deteriorated into personal remarks that violated local government conduct standards.
Financial Implications and Council Policy
In a related development, it was reported that the City of Stirling approved an allocation of $10,000 in November last year to cover Mayor Irwin's legal representation for his appeal. This approval occurred behind closed doors during a council meeting. Under the city's established policy, if the mayor's appeal had been unsuccessful, he would have been required to repay these funds to the council.
When questioned about whether any city funds had been used for legal representation and whether they would be repaid following the appeal withdrawal, a City of Stirling spokesperson declined to provide specific details. "Legal representation for any council member is a confidential matter," the spokesperson stated. "As the State Administrative Tribunal proceeding has been withdrawn, Mayor Irwin will now comply with the orders of the Local Government Standards Panel."
Moving Forward with Compliance
With the appeal process now concluded, Mayor Irwin must fulfill the requirements set by the Local Government Standards Panel. The primary obligation is the public apology that was originally ordered. This development marks the conclusion of a process that began nearly two years ago with the initial exchange during the council meeting's public question time.
The Scarborough-to-Trigg coastal boardwalk proposal that sparked the controversial exchange remains a topic of community interest and discussion within the Stirling local government area. The project's feasibility study, which was at the center of the initial question from resident Simon Wheeler, continues to be part of the council's planning considerations for coastal development in the region.
