PREMIER Mark McGowan and Local Government Minister David Templeman called on Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi to resign last week in the wake of her being censured by the Local Government Standards Panel.
Ms Scaffidi and councillors Judy McEvoy and Janet Davidson breached Local Government Rules of Conduct through their behaviour during the passage of a no-confidence motion against Deputy Lord Mayor James Limnios.
“I will be watching with interest the decision of the State Administrative Tribunal,” Mr Templeman said.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“I am increasingly frustrated by the limitations of the Local Government Act which prevents the dismissal of an individual.
“I urge the Lord Mayor to consider the best interests of the City and its ratepayers and either resign or stand aside while these proceedings take place.”
MORE: Homes in City of Swan and Shire of Kalamunda face long wait for NBN
MORE: Brentwood’s Bluegum Community Centre hosting Easter-themed Teddy Bears’ Picnic
MORE: Fremantle artist’s brush with reef life
Mr McGowan wrote to the Lord Mayor on Friday, effectively severing official ties with the City Of Perth and calling on her to resign.
Ms Scaffidi called a press conference to say she was refusing to stand down and accused Mr McGowan of being “unprofessional”.
Cr Jemma Green called on Ms Scaffidi to resign in a public statement, saying “the City of Perth cannot function without a relationship with the State Government”.
Cr Davidson moved the motion of no confidence in Cr Limnios at a May 17 council meeting last year with Cr McEvoy seconding, shortly after Cr Limnios made public statements critical of Ms Scaffidi’s handling of her gift declarations.
Ms Scaffidi allowed the motion as urgent business, breaching Regulation 7(1)(b) of the Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations.
On March 20, the panel ruled the motion should not have been allowed because it did not meet the requirements of a motion without notice being heard immediately, and noted Cr Limnios received no notice of the motion and it constituted a “public rebuke capable of damaging (his) reputation”.
Cr Limnios defied the City’s ban on councillors speaking to the media and told the Guardian Express the incident was “just one example of the situation at the City of a Perth and the failed attempt to marginalise and undermine me”.
The Panel made its finding on October 31 and made Ms Scaffidi and the councillors aware of the decision in a letter sent January 12.
The panel ruled on March 20 that notices of public censure would be published in two newspapers in regards to Ms Scaffidi and councillors McEvoy and Davidson for their conduct.