Councils torn in WA
Outrage reigns in Western Australia's local government sector.
The Shire of Halls Creek appears entangled in controversy while A Port Headland councillor is pushed out by his support for Vladimir Putin.
In Halls Creek, the now-former Chief Executive Phill Cassell has spoken out, amid reports of a fraying partnership with a key Indigenous corporation.
Phill Cassell, previously at the helm of the Shire of Halls Creek, has contested his recent dismissal, framing it as the outcome of a “kangaroo court” orchestrated by the council.
Cassell's termination was announced during ongoing investigations into allegations of misconduct - the specifics of which remain under wraps, causing ripples of speculation within the community.
According to Cassell, the council's decision to publicise the substantiation of a singular claim against him is not only premature but also a “breach of the investigatory process”, indicating an attempt to placate a “disgruntled community”.
Shire president Malcolm Edwards has defended the council's actions, stating the investigation's depth and the necessity of keeping the public informed.
However, the exact nature of the allegations and the details of the investigation's findings are yet to be disclosed, leaving room for further discourse on procedural integrity and fairness within the council's operations.
At the same time, an alleged rift has been reported between the council and the Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation (ODAC), particularly concerning the governance and independence of ODAC.
Prior to his departure, Cassell had been instrumental in supporting ODAC's push for autonomy - a move that evidently sowed seeds of discord among certain council members and senior staff.
The discord extends to the council's dealings with Commonwealth funding bodies, with Cr Edwards critiquing the National Indigenous Australians Agency for withholding a crucial transition plan - further complicating the path to ODAC's independence.
Adding to the regional governance controversies in WA, Port Hedland councillor Adrian McRae faces calls for resignation following his endorsement of Vladimir Putin's election victory after an invitation from the Russian government.
This endorsement, made amid widespread international criticism of the election's legitimacy, has sparked a debate on the appropriateness of McRae's actions, given his position in a significant Australian mining port's local government.