Fresh Scrutiny Falls on City of Perth as Inquiry Raises Prospect of Council Shake-Up

The City of Perth is once again under intense scrutiny, with Western Australia’s Local Government Inspector Tony Brown launching a formal inquiry into the troubled council amid ongoing concerns about governance and leadership.

The investigation follows a report from government-appointed monitor Carol Adams, who spent several months observing council operations and assessing its performance. While the details of her findings have not yet been made public, the inquiry signals growing concerns about the administration of the state’s capital city council.

The inquiry could lead to significant consequences. Depending on its findings, Inspector Brown may recommend that Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley suspend or dismiss individual councillors, or potentially take action against the entire council.

The City of Perth has faced governance challenges before. In 2018, the council became the subject of a major government intervention after concerns about leadership, accountability and decision-making practices. A subsequent two-year inquiry found widespread governance issues and described a culture marked by self-interest, complacency, and a lack of transparency.

Those findings led to the suspension of the council and a lengthy period of reform aimed at restoring public confidence in the city’s administration.

Former Perth Lord Mayor and current Liberal leader Basil Zempilas was credited by many observers with helping to stabilize the council during his tenure. However, his leadership was not without controversy. Earlier this year, Zempilas was reprimanded and directed to apologise after findings relating to the use of his mayoral social media account during a Liberal Party preselection campaign.

The latest inquiry represents another critical chapter for the City of Perth, with residents, businesses, and government officials closely watching developments. The investigation is expected to examine governance practices and determine whether further intervention is necessary to ensure effective local government administration.

As the inquiry proceeds, the possibility of significant structural or leadership changes remains on the table, placing renewed attention on the future direction of one of Western Australia’s most important local councils.