Inquiry may pave the way for clean up at City of Perth

Local Government Inspector Tony Brown has launched an inquiry into the City of Perth council, triggered by a report from monitor Carol Adams who spent five months observing its operations. The council has faced scandal and controversy before, but the current situation appears to be far worse than previous instances. Former Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi was forced out due to a list of issues including undeclared gifts and travel, serious breaches of local government laws, and factional infighting.

The council has been described as dysfunctional, plagued by poor governance, lack of accountability, and transparency. In 2018, the council faced a two-year inquiry that found the city's culture dominated by self-interest, complacency, and a breakdown in accountability.

Former Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas restored stability for a few years, but issues resurfaced when Acting Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds became Lord Mayor and ordered a workplace culture review, which he later backed away from. Reynolds then asked the inspector to review the city's culture. Recently, a leaked report found concerning parallels between the current situation and the 2018 collapse, with the relationship between council and management in crisis.

Brown is getting ready to recommend to Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley that certain councillors be suspended or dismissed, or even the entire council. This step was necessary to allow him to activate tools for more serious action, including recommending suspensions or dismissals. The three-month inquiry will enable the inspector to take more serious action and allow for earlier intervention than what is currently afforded to Minister Beazley.

Mayor Bruce Reynolds welcomed the inquiry and stated it provides an opportunity for matters to be independently examined. However, not everyone agrees with the current situation. WALGA President Mark Irwin denied there was anything wrong with the council, stating it's for the community to judge. Irwin also criticized the state government for painting the sector in an unflattering light. The inspector and others are unsure whether the council can rebuild and stabilize or if an extraordinary collapse is the only way forward.