❓ Minister Ravlich declines intervention in City of Nedlands' conflict, citing Liberal Party factions and upcoming elections. She acknowledges authority to suspend council but deems it unnecessary and costly.
AnsweredQoN 1068Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the current problems in the City of Nedlands. (1) Does the minister intend for Department of Local Government and Regional Development officers to visit the council to try to resolve the conflict between the mayor and councillors before there is a complete breakdown of governance of the city? (2) If not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
(1) Does the minister intend for Department of Local Government and Regional Development officers to visit the council to try to resolve the conflict between the mayor and councillors before there is a complete breakdown of governance of the city? (2) If not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
(2) If not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
(1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
(1) Does the minister intend for Department of Local Government and Regional Development officers to visit the council to try to resolve the conflict between the mayor and councillors before there is a complete breakdown of governance of the city? (2) If not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
(2) If not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
(1)-(2) You might be aware, Mr President, that for quite some time there have been problems in the City of Nedlands. To the best of my knowledge, many of those problems revolve around - dare I say it - factions in the Liberal Party. Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
Several members interjected. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Yes, the truth comes out; there are factions in the Liberal Party. Look at members opposite hiding and shying away from the truth. As I understand it, factions within the Liberal Party are a major part of the problems at the City of Nedlands. I want to put on record that it is not my intention to go to the City of Nedlands or to send officers from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to the City of Nedlands to sort out what looks to be a factional brawl among members of the Liberal Party. I also want to put on record that under the Local Government Act I do not have the authority to go to the City of Nedlands to resolve that matter. What I do have the authority to do under the Act is to suspend the council and thereby cause an inquiry. That is not a course of action that I would enter into lightly for a number of reasons. The first is because of where that council is in the electoral cycle for local government. Councils will be heading to the polls in May next year. The problems can be sorted out at that time. Another reason I do not favour that course of action is that I do not favour spending up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money on an inquiry into what seems to me to be matters of personality differences between certain members within the council. Yes, I am aware of the problem, but for the reasons I have outlined I will not be going to the City of Nedlands to sort out the problem. It is also not my intention to cause an inquiry that will cost up to $1 million. I would much rather that the democratic processes that are due to occur in May next year deal with the matter of the Nedlands City Council.
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