City of Perth faces yet another inquiry – this one, with teeth

Local government watchdog Tony Brown has launched an inquiry into the City of Perth following reports of dysfunction within the council. The investigation, set to take three months and cost around $120,000, aims to improve the situation for residents and ratepayers. The inquiry comes after a damning ABC report highlighted a crisis in the relationship between the council and management, which was followed by Brown's appointment of Carol Adams, former Kwinana mayor, as a monitor to oversee the council and promote accountability.

Brown presented the city with the monitor's findings and 12 actions focused on better teamwork and governance processes, though he did not provide further details. The inquiry represents a significant increase in scrutiny for councils compared to previous practices, with the final report able to recommend council suspension or dismissal, though the final decision rests with the local government minister.