Pilbara councillors face the chop, public to vote for leader, under proposed WA local government reforms

Pilbara local governments would have to slash councillor numbers and allow the public to vote for their leader under sweeping council reforms released for public input on November 10. Local Government Minister John Carey last week revealed a wide-ranging overhaul proposal to improve the transparency, accountability and efficiency of local government. Under the reforms local governments with a population between 5000 and 75,000 would be restricted to nine councillors. Such a move would leave the City of Karratha and Shire of East Pilbara having to shed two council seats. East Pilbara president Anthony Middleton said he was open to leading a smaller council, but a directly elected president could pose a risk. “As long as we are well-represented ... and that our people are represented to have a voice at the table, whichever way that works I am happy,” he said. “There are people out there who have never run for local government before and they make some mighty promises which are way outside what local government can offer.” “It would be mighty difficult for someone to just walk in, be elected by the people and do well.” Cr Middleton said the East Pilbara’s size and GDP contribution should be considered alongside population in decision-making for the policy. The City of Karratha refused an interview request with Mayor Peter Long, instead providing a statement which did not address the topics posed. The Town of Port Hedland and Ashburton Shire, each with nine councillors, would be unaffected. The Shire of Exmouth, which has six councillors, would have to cut one seat to fit under the five-member cap for local governments with fewer than 5000 residents. Shire of Exmouth president Darlene Allston said losing a seat would increase the burden on remaining councillors. “For us we have all our councillors involved in lots of community groups and task forces,” she said. “If the reform were to come through it would potentially increase admin for the remaining councillors.” Cr Allston said Exmouth’s dry season population, which can balloon to more than three times the permanent residency, should be taken into account. Karratha, Ashburton and East Pilbara ratepayers would also be able to directly vote for their mayor or president (as done in Port Hedland) under the reforms which would prevent council selection of leaders for band one and two local governments. Shire of Ashburton president Kerry White said a directly elected mayoral system would erode representation for swathes of the region’s population. “We have one town with 3000 people and another with 1600, then you have the pastoralists,” she said. “If it is by popular vote the president would always come from the biggest town. The pastoralists would not get a look in.” A Local Government Inspector role would be created for complaints about elected members and CEOs, and have powers of a standing inquiry to manage investigations. Mr Carey said he wanted to “extract any perception of politics” from process by making the Inspector responsible for investigations. “At the moment, the minister really just has inquiries and I think everyone agrees it shuts down the organisation,” he said. “It’s poor for the staff, community and business.” The reforms are focused on dealing with dysfunctional councils when things go wrong, but also about trying to create better culture in local government.” Mayors and shire presidents presiding over council meetings would be able to show a “red card” to councillors who kept interrupting to ban them from speaking. A new Conduct Panel would be able to impose harsher penalties for breaches of the Local Government Act, including suspending councillors and disqualifying repeat offenders. And a preferential voting system is proposed to replace the existing first-past-the-post method. WALGA president Tracey Roberts warned the move would “complicate a system that’s been well-run”. Big local governments would need to livestream meetings and post recordings online. Smaller LGAs would need to record and publish audio recordings.