❓ Hon Charles Smith asks the Minister for Local Government about the definition of financial interests and conflicts of interest for councillors related to sports club memberships and disclosures in annual returns. The Minister clarifies the circumstances under which such memberships constitute a financial interest requiring disclosure.
AnsweredQoN 725Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT —
ANNUAL RETURNS
725. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the annual returns that
are being conducted in local government, with councillors being required to
provide certain information, including discretionary disclosures under section
5.87.
(1) Does the
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries regard any of the
following as a financial interest creating a financial conflict within local
government voting procedures —
(a) a financial member of a sporting
club;
(b) an associate membership of a sports
club;
(c) a close family member being a financial
member of a sports club; or
(d) acting as a patron of a sports
club?
(2) Does a person
need to disclose membership of an organisation or club if it does not fall within
the jurisdiction or bounds of the council they are a member of?
ANNUAL RETURNS
725. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the annual returns that
are being conducted in local government, with councillors being required to
provide certain information, including discretionary disclosures under section
5.87.
(1) Does the
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries regard any of the
following as a financial interest creating a financial conflict within local
government voting procedures —
(a) a financial member of a sporting
club;
(b) an associate membership of a sports
club;
(c) a close family member being a financial
member of a sports club; or
(d) acting as a patron of a sports
club?
(2) Does a person
need to disclose membership of an organisation or club if it does not fall within
the jurisdiction or bounds of the council they are a member of?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) (a)–(b)
Yes, but only if the member has a financial relationship with the club—for
example, being a club employee or being a paid member of the club's
management board.
(c) If the close
family member has a financial relationship to the club, the councillor will
have an indirect financial interest that requires disclosure.
(d) As per (a) and (b).
(2) Disclosure of financial interest
is not limited by district boundaries.
some notice of the question.
(1) (a)–(b)
Yes, but only if the member has a financial relationship with the club—for
example, being a club employee or being a paid member of the club's
management board.
(c) If the close
family member has a financial relationship to the club, the councillor will
have an indirect financial interest that requires disclosure.
(d) As per (a) and (b).
(2) Disclosure of financial interest
is not limited by district boundaries.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.