❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses community concerns regarding the City of Fremantle's $45 million investment in the Kings Square Business Plan, questioning the accuracy of financial representations and the Minister's role in oversight. The Minister's response indicates limited intervention powers and no evidence of unlawful conduct by the City.
AnsweredQoN 3834Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of community concerns over how the City of Fremantle has represented the financial implications of their $45 million investment of ratepayer funds in its Kings Square Business Plan, and if so, what action has the Minister taken to address these concerns? (2) Has the Minister directed the City of Fremantle to answer legitimate ratepayer questions concerning the Kings Square Business Plan, and if not, why not? (3) Has the Minister conducted a full and proper investigation into the questions raised with regard to the Kings Square Business Plan: (a) if so, what were the findings; and (b) if not, why not? (4) Is the Minister satisfied that the Kings Square Business Plan: (a) accurately represents the financial implications that the $45 million project will have on the City of Fremantle's asset base; and (b) correctly represents the rate of return and net present value derived from this investment of ratepayer funds? (5) Is the Minister satisfied that the Kings Square Business Plan contains sufficient detail for ratepayers and Councillors to properly understand whether this project increases or decreases the asset base of the City of Fremantle, and if so, for what reason?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 May 2015
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
41 days
(1) Yes, I have received correspondence from the Fremantle Residents and Ratepayers Association on this matter.
(2) No, the
Local Government Act 1995
confers limited powers and authority for me to intervene or direct a local government in the performance of functions it is legally entitled and empowered to undertake.
(3) No
(a) Not applicable
(b) See answer to question 2 above
(4)(a)-(b) My Department of Local Government and Communities has not undertaken any analysis of the financial assumptions in the plan.
(5) The principal consideration for me, as Minister for Local Government, is whether the City has acted contrary to th
e
Local Government Act 1995
in its handling of the matter. The materials that have been forwarded to me do not demonstrate that the City has acted unlawfully or in a manner that is contrary to the Act.
(2) No, the
Local Government Act 1995
confers limited powers and authority for me to intervene or direct a local government in the performance of functions it is legally entitled and empowered to undertake.
(3) No
(a) Not applicable
(b) See answer to question 2 above
(4)(a)-(b) My Department of Local Government and Communities has not undertaken any analysis of the financial assumptions in the plan.
(5) The principal consideration for me, as Minister for Local Government, is whether the City has acted contrary to th
e
Local Government Act 1995
in its handling of the matter. The materials that have been forwarded to me do not demonstrate that the City has acted unlawfully or in a manner that is contrary to the Act.
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.