❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice investigates the relationship between the Minister for Local Government, his department, and a mentor appointed to the Town of Port Hedland, focusing on potential conflicts of interest and transparency. The Minister denies the suspension was solely based on the mentor's report.
AnsweredQoN 5274Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to
the Minister’s statement to the Town of Port Hedland in early June 2019 that he
wanted to suspend the council following a report from council mentor Ron
Yuryevich, and ask: (a) Did
the Minister or anyone from his department meet with Mr Yuryevich in the three
months before he was employed as a mentor to the council: (i) When and where were the meetings and who from
the department attended; and (ii) What
was discussed at the meetings; (b) Did
the department recommend Mr Yuryevich for the mentor role at the Town of Port
Hedland: (i) Did
the department recommend any other people for the role; and (ii) If
yes, whom; (c) Was
Mr Yuryevich appointed and paid by the Town of Port Hedland or the department
to act as mentor to the council; (d) Did
Mr Yuryevich provide monthly reports to the department during his tenure with
the Town of Port Hedland: (i) If
yes, how many reports did Mr Yuryevich provide to the department and when was
each received; and (ii) Was
Mr Yuryevich paid by the department or the Town of Port Hedland for the reports; (e) If
Mr Yuryevich was paid for his services by the Town of Port Hedland why was he
reporting to the department; (f) Did
the Minister or the department receive a copy of the scope of works Mr
Yuryevich was to undertake for the Town; (g) Has
the Town of Port Hedland been provided with a copy of Mr Yuryevich’s report: (i) If
not, why not; and (ii) If
yes, when did the council receive the report; (h) Did
the Minister and/or his department receive a copy of the Action Plan Mr
Yuryevich was required to provide the Town of Port Hedland as part of his scope
of works; and (i) Has
the Minister considered using new powers that allows the suspension of
individual councillors to solve issues within the Town of Port Hedland?
the Minister’s statement to the Town of Port Hedland in early June 2019 that he
wanted to suspend the council following a report from council mentor Ron
Yuryevich, and ask: (a) Did
the Minister or anyone from his department meet with Mr Yuryevich in the three
months before he was employed as a mentor to the council: (i) When and where were the meetings and who from
the department attended; and (ii) What
was discussed at the meetings; (b) Did
the department recommend Mr Yuryevich for the mentor role at the Town of Port
Hedland: (i) Did
the department recommend any other people for the role; and (ii) If
yes, whom; (c) Was
Mr Yuryevich appointed and paid by the Town of Port Hedland or the department
to act as mentor to the council; (d) Did
Mr Yuryevich provide monthly reports to the department during his tenure with
the Town of Port Hedland: (i) If
yes, how many reports did Mr Yuryevich provide to the department and when was
each received; and (ii) Was
Mr Yuryevich paid by the department or the Town of Port Hedland for the reports; (e) If
Mr Yuryevich was paid for his services by the Town of Port Hedland why was he
reporting to the department; (f) Did
the Minister or the department receive a copy of the scope of works Mr
Yuryevich was to undertake for the Town; (g) Has
the Town of Port Hedland been provided with a copy of Mr Yuryevich’s report: (i) If
not, why not; and (ii) If
yes, when did the council receive the report; (h) Did
the Minister and/or his department receive a copy of the Action Plan Mr
Yuryevich was required to provide the Town of Port Hedland as part of his scope
of works; and (i) Has
the Minister considered using new powers that allows the suspension of
individual councillors to solve issues within the Town of Port Hedland?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 September 2019
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
12 days
The statement referred to in the Member’s preamble is not correct. The show cause notice was not solely based on the Mentor’s report, it was something that was considered, but not the basis for this action.
(a) Yes
(i) Senior officers from the department met with him on 1 June 2018 at 140 William Street, Perth.
(ii) Possible approach to mentor the Council at the Town of Port Hedland.
(b) Yes
(i) No
(ii) Not applicable
(c) He was appointed and paid by the Town.
(d) No
(i) He provided two updates to the department, one on 9 October 2018 and the other on 17 December 2018.
(ii) No
(e) The updates provided detail of his observations and were not a report to the department.
(f) Yes
(g) Yes
(i) Not applicable
(ii) 12 June 2019
(h) No
(i) All options have been considered.
(a) Yes
(i) Senior officers from the department met with him on 1 June 2018 at 140 William Street, Perth.
(ii) Possible approach to mentor the Council at the Town of Port Hedland.
(b) Yes
(i) No
(ii) Not applicable
(c) He was appointed and paid by the Town.
(d) No
(i) He provided two updates to the department, one on 9 October 2018 and the other on 17 December 2018.
(ii) No
(e) The updates provided detail of his observations and were not a report to the department.
(f) Yes
(g) Yes
(i) Not applicable
(ii) 12 June 2019
(h) No
(i) All options have been considered.
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