Wanneroo Councillor Faces Scrutiny Over Meeting Attendance Record
A City of Wanneroo councillor's attendance record has come under intense public scrutiny after official figures revealed he attended less than one-third of scheduled meetings during the 2025 calendar year. Councillor Vinh Nguyen, who has represented the South-West ward since 2019, participated in just 15 of 52 scheduled meetings, missing a total of 37 sessions throughout the year.
Detailed Breakdown of Meeting Attendance Statistics
The meetings in question encompass a wide range of council activities, including concept forums, agenda briefings, ordinary council meetings, budget workshops, and special council meetings. While the average attendance rate among other elected members in Wanneroo stood at approximately 80 percent last year, with councillors attending an average of 42 sessions, Cr Nguyen's attendance hovered around a mere 29 percent.
Councillor James Rowe demonstrated the highest attendance record, making 49 of the 52 meetings. Councillor Marizane Moore recorded the second lowest attendance with 18 meetings, though this was largely due to maternity leave during the first half of the year. Of the 37 meetings Cr Nguyen missed, 33 were recorded with apologies, three were designated as leave of absence, and one was marked as absent.
Community Questions About Value for Money
The Associated Residents & Ratepayers City of Wanneroo Facebook group recently raised pointed questions about councillors' attendance records and corresponding pay rates. A post on the group's page highlighted that "Councillor Vinh Nguyen ... attended 15, and in return picked up $36,954," calculating this amounted to "$2463.60 per meeting" and questioning whether this represented "value for money."
According to the State's Salaries and Allowances Tribunal, the current councillor annual allowance is $35,480 per annum, with elected members also receiving an additional $3,500 ICT allowance. The West Australian newspaper has clarified it is not suggesting Cr Nguyen lacked reasonable and valid reasons for his numerous absences.
Councillor's Defense of His Attendance Pattern
Speaking to The West Australian, Cr Nguyen argued that attendance statistics could be misleading when examined in isolation and do not accurately reflect the substance of a councillor's work or community contribution. "When I was first elected, I attended all meetings and forums," Cr Nguyen explained. "Over time, however, I have formed the view that not all forums are equally effective or constructive, and I have made a deliberate decision to prioritise where my time delivers the greatest value to our community."
The councillor emphasized his consistent presence at council briefings and ordinary council meetings, which he identified as "the primary decision-making forums where councillors are required to vote and directly represent their residents. That is where accountability matters most." He further noted that under the Local Government Act, councillors who miss more than three consecutive ordinary council meetings without approved leave may face disqualification from council membership. Of the 10 ordinary Wanneroo council meetings in 2025, Cr Nguyen attended seven.
Focus on Community Work Beyond Formal Meetings
Cr Nguyen highlighted that a substantial portion of his role involves working directly with residents outside formal meeting structures. "Outside of formal meetings, a substantial part of my role involves working directly with residents, addressing local issues, and advocating for outcomes that matter to the community," he stated. "This work is not captured in attendance records but is central to effective representation."
The councillor expressed pride in his on-the-ground work conducted behind the scenes and made clear his philosophical approach: "I will not simply attend meetings for the sake of appearances. My focus is on meaningful contribution and outcomes, not optics."
Increased Transparency Through Published Records
The attendance records of City of Wanneroo councillors have only recently become more publicly accessible after the council decided last November to publish these records on the city's website and Facebook page on a quarterly basis. This transparency motion was initiated by Cr Rowe and passed with a 12–2 vote, with Cr Nguyen being one of the two votes against the measure.
"This motion recognises the many hours that contribute to council's decision-making process," Cr Rowe commented on Facebook before the motion's adoption. "It also fosters greater understanding about the role of an elected member within the community."
During the November meeting, Cr Nguyen spoke against the motion, arguing it was unnecessary since councillor attendance records were already included in annual reports. "The concern I have is each councillor does their wonderful work to the community in different ways," Cr Nguyen explained. "They have responsibilities, commitments and everyone has their strengths and weaknesses as they contribute towards their role as councillors."
He further noted that attendance at many meetings beyond ordinary council meetings and briefing sessions is not mandatory for councillors, and that colleagues may be absent for various personal reasons. The debate continues as the community weighs the importance of formal meeting attendance against other forms of community representation and service.
