City of Subiaco councillor Mark Burns.
Camera IconCity of Subiaco councillor Mark Burns. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Subiaco councillor launches defamation case against Local Govt Standards Panel

Lisa ThomasWestern Suburbs Weekly

Cr Burns launched defamation action against the panel last week after finding out that City chief executive Don Burnett was instructed to place the crest and name of the City on top of the notice.

The panel ordered a public censure of Cr Burns last month over comments made in August last year about Wilson Parking.

He said that he decided not to appeal the censure but after seeing the council crest on the public notice, he felt it had generated the public perception that he was censured by the City of Subiaco, and action had to be taken.

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“The department’s carelessness has created two perceptions: that I have been censured by my fellow councillors and the City holds an interest in the welfare of Wilson Parking,” he said.

Local Government Minister Paul Miles said it was a matter for the Standards Panel and he did not have any further comment.

Subiaco Mayor Heather Henderson said the City did not censure Cr Burns.

“This is a matter for the Standards Panel, which censured Cr Burns, not the City of Subiaco,” she said.

Mr Burnett queried the panel about including the Subiaco crest on the notice and was told it was required to be there.

He said the Standards Panel determined the censure and wording of the censure notice, the papers it was published in, location in the paper and size of the ad, and the City was required to lodge the ad as directed by the Standards Panel.

A Department of Local Government and Communities spokeswoman said the Local Government Standards Panel did not comment on the lodgement of any complaints or legal action.