Joondalup councillor calls it quits, after strip club beer sparks scrutiny of his military record

Joondalup councillor Nige Jones has quit after his failed attempt to get ratepayers to pay for his beer at an Adelaide strip club sparked outrage and prompted questions about his embellished military record. The former mayoral aspirant claimed he didn’t realise it was a strip club when he walked into the Crazy Horse Revue, while travelling on council business, and that his reimbursement claim was a “genuine mistake” when he submitted other receipts. But on Wednesday afternoon, the Council confirmed he had tendered his resignation. “This decision has been made for personal reasons and I ask that Cr Jones’ privacy be respected at this time,” Mayor Daniel Kingston said in a statement. “An extraordinary election will be held to fill the vacancy of North Central Ward Councillor at a date to be determined. “It is essential that we continue to support measures that uphold transparency and integrity in local government.” Cr Jones had been censured and ordered to undergo an “ethical decision making” course within 30 days, but earlier on Wednesday there were calls for him to resign altogether. Premier Roger Cook said the scandal goes beyond the “pub test” and is completely unacceptable. “That is fundamentally letting down the people, the ratepayers of Joondalup in this particular situation, and that councillor should reconsider his position as a councillor,” he said. “This is about not whether someone has a glass of wine, not whether someone has interesting entertainment tastes, this is about using ratepayers funds for strippers and booze. “I don’t know how, or in what world, someone would think that that was acceptable.” Attention also turned to claims Mr Jones’ embellished his military record during recent local government elections by declaring he had “service in the British Special Air Service Regiment” despite never obtaining his beret. The Australian SAS Historical Foundation has written to the City of Joondalup, asking for Cr Jones to stop wearing an SAS tie. It was also revealed he was denied an Australian Defence Medal on the grounds he “did not complete his initial enlistment period” and “had only completed two years efficient service and not the four years of efficient service (aggregated) required”. WA’s first local government inspector was appointed in August, but the Premier couldn’t say whether he’ll investigate Cr Jones. “Our new laws will come in on the first of January, that will provide for a position called the inspector of local government,” Mr Cook said. “That person and those laws have a process by which we can investigate and take action against an individual councillor. So that will be an important change that takes place next year.” Meanwhile, new Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds has been forced to defend the decision to spend up to $125,000 on a review of “workplace culture” after complaints that other councillors were only given six minutes’ notice to vote on the motion. Three voted against it. “The paperwork that came through today for the first phase is $70,000,” Mr Reynolds said. “We take workplace culture seriously and this is a step for us to have an oversight committee and a review and I think that’s a positive. “There was no blindside. It’s now an absolute majority decision of Council and it will be administered in the next week.”