❓ Mr Baker questions the Minister for Local Government about dysfunction within the City of Nedlands and its impact on community services, particularly the establishment of WA's first children's hospice. The Minister expresses strong disapproval of the council's actions and outlines steps taken to address the issues.
AnsweredQoN 190Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Children's hospice—City of Nedlands
190. Mr Geoff Baker to the Minister for Local
Government:
I refer to the
reports of dysfunction within the City of Nedlands.
(1) Can the minister advise the house what action
the government has taken to find a resolution to issues occurring in the City
of Nedlands?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
dysfunction is having an impact on important community services such as Western
Australia's first children's hospice?
190. Mr Geoff Baker to the Minister for Local
Government:
I refer to the
reports of dysfunction within the City of Nedlands.
(1) Can the minister advise the house what action
the government has taken to find a resolution to issues occurring in the City
of Nedlands?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
dysfunction is having an impact on important community services such as Western
Australia's first children's hospice?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for South Perth
for the question and for his deep concerns in this area. I know that we have
spoken about this and local council many times before. As I am sure members
would be aware, there have been many concerning issues and some simply very
strange and out of touch behaviour from the City of Nedlands. It has been
reported on and raised many times. I have been crystal clear as Minister for
Local Government that I will not tolerate councils that continually provide bad
governance and lack of good governance. As Minister for Local Government, my
expectation and that of the community—I do not think anyone is more
disappointed than me, except maybe the community of Nedlands in their council—is
that councils are focused on delivering important local services, being
productive and respectful, and acting in ways that reflect positively on their
own communities.
The issues at the City of
Nedlands have been well documented, including the council's significant audit
finding; repeated inability to meet and keep quorum many times over April and
May this year; failure to meet the deadline to lodge its compliance audit
returns; and not publishing the live streaming or recording of its council
meetings. These are significant issues for me. Recently, the council has been
unable to complete important governance matters—and they are simple
matters. It is appointing a presiding member to the CEO review committee and
appointing independent members to the audit risk and improvement committees.
Deeply concerning from the City of Nedlands and to the Western Australian
community is its continued opposition to the excising of an A-class reserve for
use by the Perth Children's Hospital. The Premier put it very well when he said:
It's extraordinary that the City
of Nedlands would commit so much of ratepayer resources to opposing a hospice …
It's beggars' belief that a council of any nature would oppose such a facility.
The long-anticipated children's
hospice will be WA's first and only purpose-built facility providing respite
and palliative care for children. The hospice and parkland will offer
invaluable support to children and their families and precious final moments
together. I, too, call on the City of Nedlands to rethink its actions regarding
the hospice that are so out of step with community expectations and priorities.
The city should be proud to be home to such a facility.
Further disappointing and
distressing for the community was the very disappointing and strange decision
by the mayor to fund a billboard opposing the use of the land for the children's
hospice. At the time, I encouraged anyone with concerns relating to the
billboard to make a complaint to the local standards panel. I personally find
it in very poor taste that the billboard funded by the mayor featured a
healthy, happy and smiling child to oppose a park to be used for sick and dying
children. I have raised my concerns about the council directory with the
Director General of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural
Industries. The director general has initiated an investigation into the city.
Anyone with concerns can lodge them with the standards panel or department and
I encourage them to do so.
I want to assure the people of
Nedlands and those further afield that I am taking this very seriously. The
City of Nedlands, I implore you to take a look in the mirror and reflect on
your behaviour. It is time to change; your community deserves better. I note that
Tuesday night's meeting was a notable improvement after
being watched very closely. That is somewhat of a relief, but I want you to
make no mistake; we will be continuing to watch you very closely.
for the question and for his deep concerns in this area. I know that we have
spoken about this and local council many times before. As I am sure members
would be aware, there have been many concerning issues and some simply very
strange and out of touch behaviour from the City of Nedlands. It has been
reported on and raised many times. I have been crystal clear as Minister for
Local Government that I will not tolerate councils that continually provide bad
governance and lack of good governance. As Minister for Local Government, my
expectation and that of the community—I do not think anyone is more
disappointed than me, except maybe the community of Nedlands in their council—is
that councils are focused on delivering important local services, being
productive and respectful, and acting in ways that reflect positively on their
own communities.
The issues at the City of
Nedlands have been well documented, including the council's significant audit
finding; repeated inability to meet and keep quorum many times over April and
May this year; failure to meet the deadline to lodge its compliance audit
returns; and not publishing the live streaming or recording of its council
meetings. These are significant issues for me. Recently, the council has been
unable to complete important governance matters—and they are simple
matters. It is appointing a presiding member to the CEO review committee and
appointing independent members to the audit risk and improvement committees.
Deeply concerning from the City of Nedlands and to the Western Australian
community is its continued opposition to the excising of an A-class reserve for
use by the Perth Children's Hospital. The Premier put it very well when he said:
It's extraordinary that the City
of Nedlands would commit so much of ratepayer resources to opposing a hospice …
It's beggars' belief that a council of any nature would oppose such a facility.
The long-anticipated children's
hospice will be WA's first and only purpose-built facility providing respite
and palliative care for children. The hospice and parkland will offer
invaluable support to children and their families and precious final moments
together. I, too, call on the City of Nedlands to rethink its actions regarding
the hospice that are so out of step with community expectations and priorities.
The city should be proud to be home to such a facility.
Further disappointing and
distressing for the community was the very disappointing and strange decision
by the mayor to fund a billboard opposing the use of the land for the children's
hospice. At the time, I encouraged anyone with concerns relating to the
billboard to make a complaint to the local standards panel. I personally find
it in very poor taste that the billboard funded by the mayor featured a
healthy, happy and smiling child to oppose a park to be used for sick and dying
children. I have raised my concerns about the council directory with the
Director General of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural
Industries. The director general has initiated an investigation into the city.
Anyone with concerns can lodge them with the standards panel or department and
I encourage them to do so.
I want to assure the people of
Nedlands and those further afield that I am taking this very seriously. The
City of Nedlands, I implore you to take a look in the mirror and reflect on
your behaviour. It is time to change; your community deserves better. I note that
Tuesday night's meeting was a notable improvement after
being watched very closely. That is somewhat of a relief, but I want you to
make no mistake; we will be continuing to watch you very closely.
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