5/12/03
Local Government Minister Tom Stephens has suspended the Joondalup City Council and will today appoint five commissioners to oversee the city's administration.
Mr Stephens said a panel inquiry into the conduct of the Joondalup City Council would commence within six months.
"It has become clear to me that the council is seriously dysfunctional and unable to ensure that the City of Joondalup performs its functions properly," the Minister said.
"This situation has been deteriorating for a considerable duration and events over the last fortnight have convinced me that it would be inappropriate for the council to continue to act as the governing body of the City of Joondalup."
Mr Stephens said the suspension was approved by the Governor, Lt General John Sanderson, this morning.
He said five commissioners would be appointed for a term of up to two years. These were:
- chairman John Paterson, an experienced and respected practitioner in local government;
- Allan Drake-Brockman, deputy chairman, a barrister and solicitor with substantial experience in employer/employee relations;
- Michael Anderson, an accountant and a member of the board of the State Supply Commission;
- Ms Anne Fox, an organisational change management specialist, an executive in health care, with strong team-building expertise, who is a resident of the City of Joondalup; and
- Ms Steve Smith, who has considerable experience in local government management.
"The commissioners will now ensure the city is operating smoothly," Mr Stephens said.
"I anticipate that all the issues will be resolved before the next local government elections scheduled for May, 2005."
The Minister said he was disappointed the suspension was necessary and that he had given the council every chance to resolve the conflicts which had made it dysfunctional.
"The Gallop Government retains its strong commitment to allowing local governments maximum autonomy in managing their own affairs in an open, responsive and accountable manner," he said.
Minister's office: 9213 6500
