Perth Voice Interactive

LISA SCAFFIDI “signally failed in her duties” as Perth lord mayor by not disclosing several gifts and travel packages, according to the corruption and crime commission.

In addition to a big hospitality package to the Beijing Olympics from mining giant BHP, the report reveals property developer Hawaiian Investments offered her three nights’ accommodation in Broome with husband Joe Scaffidi. At the time Hawaiian was part of a consortium seeking $180,000 from the city. The CCC report notes: “Mrs Scaffidi did not even make an impartiality declaration.

“It should have been obvious to Mrs Scaffidi that Hawaiian as part of the BID consortium would benefit from the City’s approval of $180,000.”
A CCC report released Monday October 5 finds “serious misconduct” relating to the failure to disclose those gifts.

Ms Scaffidi also did not declare free tickets, food and accommodation for Chris Isaak tickets, worth north of $600 (anything higher than $300 has to be declared if “the donor is undertaking or intending to undertake an activity that requires council authorisation”).

Ms Scaffidi said she asked then-CEO Frank Edwards if she was allowed to accept the gifts and he’d given her the okay, but the commission determined she was ultimately responsible for her actions.

The report noted that Mr Edwards had co-operated with Ms Scaffidi to keep details of the Olympic visit secret from other councillors for fear it could be used politically against her, working up a declaration of interest for her that “camouflaged” the true nature of the trip.

She later used that declaration to state publicly that the Perth city council had approved her trip.

The commission “did not determine that Mrs Scaffidi had acted corruptly”.