Perth Voice Interactive

LISA SCAFFIDI has kept her lord mayoral chains, scoring 54.76 per cent of the Perth vote despite the release of a damaging corruption and crime commission report in the middle of her campaign.

But her loyal deputy, Cr Rob Butler—who was also outed for having not declared a trip (this one paid for by the Malaysian government) — didn’t fare so well: he was the only incumbent to lose his seat. The other three councillors running for re-election on the “team Scaffidi” ticket were effortlessly returned.

In a Facebook post Sunday night Mr Butler posted a screenshot of a Perth Voice article reporting the undeclared trip. He said Perth city council CEO Gary Stevenson and WA local government minister Tony Simpson should have come out to “repudiate on my behalf”.

The Act says travel contribution from “Commonwealth, State or local government funds” don’t require declaration. While the terminology and capitalisation might suggest Australian government funds, Mr Butler believes it applies to foreign governments too.

He told his Facebook friends that Mr Stevenson and Mr Simpson should have defended him on that point.

“CEO had opportunity to repudiate on my behalf and so did minister for local government Tony Simpson who should have known said section in local government act and did publicly discuss but not diffuse the accusation on my behalf but added ‘further investigation’—midstream my electoral campaign and disrespect my reputation… I am disappointed that they should allow such journalism to discredit myself and local government sector”.

Details of other councillors’ potentially problematic non-declarations had been provided to the CCC in August by Mr Stevenson (as is his duty) and are currently being reviewed.

Mr Butler was first elected in 2003 and served on Subiaco council before that.

Ms Scaffidi’s challenger, Cr Reece Harley, came much closer than her last contender, scoring 45.24 per cent. He remains a councillor, sitting amongst six Scaffidi allies — who all signed a statement sticking by her, regardless of the CCC misconduct findings — and new councillor Jemma Green, who knocked off Mr Butler.

The environmental researcher calls herself an independent but appeared in a joint mailout with Cr Harley.

The pair’s chumminess led to Cr James Limnios, a Scaffidi man, posting to her Facebook page: “Jemma you must take the City of Perth electorate as stupid…!

“You claim to be independent however all your electoral material was posted with Lisa Scaffidi’s opponent!

“Jemma don’t underestimate the ratepayers and occupiers of the City of Perth, they see right through political games and rhetoric! You are clearly aligned with Reece Harley!”

Ms Green says, “lots of campaigns share postage because it saves on resources”. “I am an independent candidate… I have demonstrated my independence in everything that I have said and done throughout this campaign.”

Perth only has one ward. The four councillors elected, in order, were: Janet Davidson with 15.12 per cent; Jim Adamos (14.09); Jemma Green (13.76); Lily Chen (13.23).

Rob Butler missed out by 123 votes, getting 12.38 per cent. Andrew Toulalan scored 9.65 per cent, Matthew Clarke 7.39, Francois Shiefler 7.37 and Chris Hardy 7.02 per cent.

by DAVID BELL