Perth Voice Interactive

VINCENT mayor John Carey has criticised his Bayswater counterpart for attending a dinner hosted by a property developer.

Mr Carey says attending developers’ soirees doesn’t inspire ratepayers’ confidence in arms-length decision-making.

He says there was no need for Barry McKenna and Bayswater council CEO Francesca Lefante and their partners to attend the Satterley Property Group suit-and-tie affair at King Park’s State Reception Centre.

The November dinner was last week logged on the council’s gift register at $600 value.

“I would ask why council staff would need to go to an event like this,” the Vincent mayor asks.

“As decision-makers, we should be beyond reproach and not fuelling a perception that there has been undue influence.

“I’m not suggesting that’s what has happened here or that the mayor has acted in this way, I’m just saying, whether we like it or not, some people hold the perception that developers and councillors are in bed together.

“It’s critical we don’t give any more fuel or fodder to those perceptions, and I think that task is harder if we accept hospitality from developers.

“I have not and will not ever accept hospitality from a developer. A bunch of mayors going to an expensive mayoral dinner hosted by a developer at a lovely restaurant doesn’t look good.”

His disapproval comes after Bayswater council last month rejected councillor Dan Bull’s call for a “developer register”, a public record of interactions between elected members and the development industry.

Cr Bull wanted to introduce a “level of accountability” but was voted down, with opponents saying they didn’t want to be “bogged down” with paperwork.

Satterley has hosted the annual dinner for 25 years and invites dozens of government officials, incuding mayors and state ministers.

It’s known as a networking event, and it’s up to invitees to decide whether they want to pay their own way or accept it as a gift.

Cr McKenna says he doesn’t believe the council has received a development application from Satterley.

He doesn’t think there’s a conflict of interest.

“It was a good meet-and-greet with other mayors and ministers,” he says.

Guests included WA local government minister Tony Simpson.

Satterley declined to comment.

by EMMIE DOWLING