Entire city council sacked
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley took drastic action after four councillors quit the council based in Perth's western suburbs on Monday leaving it without a quorum to make decisions.
Councillors Fergus Bennett, Noel Youngman, Ben Hodson and Hengameh Amiry all pulled the pin following years of dysfunction at the council. Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle welcomed the resignation of the four councillors which she described as a 'fantastic day' during a trainwreck interview on ABC Perth. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Mr Bennett had served on the council for 23 years, telling 6PR all his efforts to get positive outcomes for the community had fallen on deaf ears.
'So I thought it was … time to leave the building,' he said.
The veteran councillor claimed notices were often skipped in council meetings and the mayor would often rule against a person talking and when they arced up they would be accused of being misogynistic.
'It's light entertainment,' he said.
The former councillor said the only way to force the mayor to leave was if there was no longer a quorum and the minister was forced to step in.
Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle told ABC Perth she welcomed the resignation of the four councillors which she described as a 'fantastic day' during a trainwreck interview.
'I am the most popularly elected mayor since the 70s,' she said.
'I am a globalised girl with almost three university degrees that can speak two languages, if they want to put that on me that's their business.' City of Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle opposed a Perth Children's Hospice and parkland on Class A Reserve next to Swanbourne Beach. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Mayor Argyle had been at loggerheads with the state government over plans for a children's hospice and park on council land located next to Swanbourne Beach, in Perth's western suburbs.
The council blocked a development application from the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation's to turn a Class A Reserve into an oasis for terminally ill children and the community.
Planning and Lands Minister John Cary stepped in and took excise of the land to allow the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation to create a park for patients, families and the community.
'No one on this planet is against dying children,' Mayor Argyle said.
'No one hates dying children. Everyone loves dying children.
'It had a Whadjuk Noongar trail on it for 40,000 years and it was the only beach access, so should that go into private hands?' Minister for Local Government Hannah Beazley sacked the entire City of Nedlands Council after four councillors quit leaving the council without a quorum to make decisions. Supplied Credit: Supplied
After the four councillors resigned Minister Beazley said she would bring an end to the saga of dysfunction and disunity that plagued the City of Nedlands and appoint three commissioners as quickly as possible.
'I'm currently working with the department through that process, having conversations with people who may be appropriate commissioners and provide the skill sets, intelligence and backgrounds that I will need to take to the city of Nedlands to sort out the core governance that have been plaguing that city for some time,' she said.
The minister said there was nothing stopping the sacked councillors from running for council again during the October elections, but encouraged them to reflect on their behaviour and the decisions they had made.
'I've had concerns about the City of Nedlands Netherlands for quite some time, so the department has had them under investigation,' said.
'That investigation is due to wrap up soon and will be a useful resource for the commissioners coming in as a source of information.'
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