SAT rules Blanco be reimbursed

Exiled Town of Port Hedland mayor Camilo Blanco will be repaid the money he used to challenge a decision requiring him to publicly apologise to a fellow councillor.

Earlier this month, the State Administrative Tribunal dismissed a Local Government Standards Panel decision requiring Mr Blanco to apologise for a “minor breach” against fellow councillor George Daccache.

Council commissioner Fred Riebelling said it was a simple decision to agree to the repayment of the $500 administrative fee because SAT ruled in favour of Mr Blanco.

“It’s a basic tenure of the way government works, if you take something on as a result of work and are successful it shouldn’t cost you money,” he said.

Mr Riebelling emphasised that his decision to approve the repayment was based solely on the SAT outcome.

“It was not an exceptional decision, no matter who would’ve asked whether that was the chief executive or another councillor, it would have been the same result,” he said.

Mr Blanco said he was happy that he got his money back after the long process.

“The tribunal made findings against George for lack of credibility, they found him not to be a truthful witness, and that he had strong motivations to fabricate a complaint,” he said.

Mr Blanco said his concern with the saga was that the Department of Local Government would do nothing about it.