Perth Voice Interactive

JOHN GIORGI started his career in local government as a mailboy at Perth city council, moving through the ranks to become controller of health services, senior health surveyor and records officer.

When Richard Court’s Liberal government split Perth in 1994 to create Vincent, Cambridge and Shepparton (later renamed Victoria Park) Mr Giorgi won the job as inaugural CEO of the newly created town council. He’s worked with mayors Jack Marks, John Hyde, Nick Catania, Alannah MacTiernan and John Carey.

When the spectre of mergers arose Mr Giorgi remarked Vincent had been set up to fail from the very beginning, having a less lucrative ratebase than Perth.

He said nobody had expected the municipality to survive but in its 20-year life it had in fact thrived. In 2011 its population growth to 30,000 resulted in its status changing from town to city.

A soccer referee and cat lover—who has had an on-again mostly off-again relationship with the Voice over the years—was unavailable for interview this week, having taken leave shortly after the council’s decision.

VINCENT’S two most recent mayors have very different opinions on the council’s decision to axe John Giorgi.

Immediate-past mayor Alannah MacTiernan, now the federal Labor MP for Perth, believes the council made the right choice. She’d worked alongside Mr Giorgi for two years.

“I think in this critical lead-up to this restructure the council would be looking for someone that possibly is more focussed on some of the more contemporary issues.

“My read of it is the council is wanting to ensure they have the ability to influence the final shape of the new City of Perth.

“Every organisation needs renewal: It would be most unusual outside local government for there to be a CEO continuing on for that length of time.”

Surprised

Former mayor Nick Catania worked with Mr Giorgi for 10 years from 2001. He’s surprised by the decision and can’t see the logic in it.

“The council, for all intents and purposes, only has a life of about 18 months,” he told the Voice. “They’ve got to pick someone else, train them, and then it’s time to go.”

He’d always found the CEO to be “very professional, very diligent and hard-working, all those attributes that made my job easier”.

“He’s one of the most experienced men in the industry in WA. I think he’s proven to be a man of integrity.

‘He didn’t throw money away, he didn’t splurge’

“I find it strange, and I feel for John because I worked with him for such a long time and we had a professional relationship that yielded many positives for Vincent: Beatty Park, NIB stadium, the work we did on beautifying Vincent, the start of the renewal of Hyde Park lakes.

“We did a lot during that time and it changed the face of Vincent for the better.

“So I’m surprised that they’ve taken that decision.”

When Vincent was first set up it was the poor neighbour to Perth and known as ‘St Vincent de Paul’.

“We were very frugal and that’s an attribute that John had: He didn’t throw money away, he didn’t splurge,” Mr Catania said.

“We were able to hook into local grants from state and federal governments…we were declared one of the sustainable councils and given full marks [for viability], that’s under his guidance.”

As to claims the council needs some fresh blood, Mr Catania says the public and private sectors are “two different animals” and 20 years’ experience counts for much.

“If you’re doing a good job, the old saying is if it isn’t broke, don’t try to mend it.

“If his delivery was fine, and he delivered what his KPIs and contract stated, what’s wrong with staying there 20 years?

“I don’t know what reasoning or logic there is to that decision.”

But former councillor Dudley Maier—who served on council for much of Mr Giorgi’s tenure—supports the decision. He’d voted against renewing the CEO’s contract four years ago.

“I think they’ve made the right decision and it’s been made in the best interests of the community,” he told the Voice.

“Every organisation needs an update and some new blood from time to time. Vincent has some great employees and I think some renewal might be the spark that lets them shine and bring about some really good outcomes.” He’d also consistently voted against Mr Giorgi receiving a performance bonus, saying it shouldn’t be paid on a “satisfactory” rating.