The Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) has received a request from Gosnells councillor Glenn Dewhurst to investigate if Cr Searle used her correct residential address when she took the mayoral oath.
She has a property in Kenwick and a property in Canning Vale, in the City of Canning. Mr Yang said he would have to leave the room because he was a practising lawyer and the matter was before the CCC.
He said he could not take part in the discussion.
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READ NOW“It would be prudent for council not to comment or discuss this matter while the investigation is being completed,” he said.
According to chief executive Ian Cowie, when Cr Searle gave her oath, she gave the address as 32 Edinbridge Road in Kenwick.
Mr Cowie said the City had Cr Searle’s residential address as 6 Melaleuca Court, Canning Vale, when she gave the oath.
Cr Dewhurst first raised this issue at a council meeting on February 9 and asked more questions on Tuesday.
He then tried to put it on the agenda again under urgent business but Cr Searle attempted to stop it coming up through the chair.
Cr Ron Mitchell then called a point of order because he wanted to know what was going on.
The order was accepted through a vote and Cr Dewhurst began asking more questions of Cr Searle.
Cr Yang called another point of order. He said council should not discuss the issue until the CCC finished its investigation. He put that motion to the councillors, which was passed seven votes to four.