Perth Voice Interactive

NEWS broke in October that Perth ratepayers spent tens of thousands of dollars outfitting Perth mayor Lisa Scaffidi and her councillors last financial year.

Council figures show Ms Scaffidi racked up a $7600 bill for clothing and another $1100 for dry cleaning.

Cr Reece Harley, who had run for mayor in October, was the only councillor who didn’t claim any clothing expenses.

In Stirling, $20,000 is annually budgeted for “justified…personal expenses” used on council business.

Reimbursable items are clothing (but not underwear), council uniforms, dry-cleaning, footwear, hair styling and “accessories/consumables”.

Mayor Giovanni Italiano and CEO Stuart Jardine—who came under fire last month for each receiving a ratepayer-funded Mercedes Benz—are responsible for approving any claim.

At Vincent, it’s a different story: councillors can’t claim personal expenses such as hair cuts and clothing. No-one can claim travel expenses either, and mayor John Carey is getting an electric bike instead of a car.

He says there’s “no justification whatsoever” for ratepayer-funded clothes.

“What makes elected members of local government think they’re so special that they deserve these kind of perks,” he asks.

“If councillors are so comfortable with it, they should run a campaign saying, ‘I believe residents should pay for my suit.’

“I understand the need for it in jobs where you need safety uniforms, but there are so many other professions where you do need to look professional that don’t have the same perks.

“It’s outrageous. Full stop—I can’t believe we’re even having this discussion in the 21st century.”

While the WA salaries and allowances tribunal allows for the reimbursements, councils have “considerable discretion” on developing policies to include them, or not.