Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH city councillor Jemma Green has followed Reece Harley’s example in releasing to ratepayers all information about the expenses she claims.

Councillors can claim up to $13,360 a year on expenses like suits, shoes, haircuts and phones but the public can only obtain the records via an expensive and laborious freedom of information process.

Last week Cr Harley publicly released his reimbursements from July last year, showing he’d only claimed expenses for his council mobile and landline, for a total of $491.93.

This week Cr Green released her figures too, saying “when I was elected to the Perth city council in October last year, I committed to good governance; open, transparent and ethical decision making; reasonable and responsible use of ratepayer funds… in line with that promise, I have uploaded my council-related expenses to my website, which I will keep up to date going forward”.

She’s also steered clear of fancy haircuts and designer pantsuits: so far her only expenses are the monthly mobile phone payments, a total of $239.96 since being elected.

Last week the Voice asked all Perth councillors if they’d get on board with this transparency measure. Still no reply from the others, all of whom were signatory to a letter supporting lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi after the corruption and crime commission delivered a finding against her of serious misconduct.

by DAVID BELL