Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH councillor Di Bain has resigned two months ahead of her term expiring. 

Ms Bain was elected in 2020 with a strong showing in a crowded field, taking a council seat after coming in a close second in the lord mayoral race won by Basil Zempilas, who got 29.44 per cent of the vote to her 24.94 per cent. 

But she called it quits early, announcing on her website: “Today (August 17, 2023) I issued a letter to the CEO as notice of my resignation as an Elected Member of the City of Perth Council effective immediately.

“Caretaker mode for the 2023 election is just around the corner and I do not wish [to] be an occupier on the City’s electoral roll which closes on August 25.”

Candidates have to be either a property owner, resident, or one of two appointed ‘occupier’ voters for a rented non-residential building. Ms Bain bought a unit in the city ahead of the 2020 election to qualify as a property owner, but we weren’t able to get hold of her to clarify her current eligibility. 

Ms Bain posted a lengthy list of achievements from her time on council, including launching the city’s first dog park and opening the safe night space for women, and said it was all a team effort.

“Sometimes public commentary creates an impression that only one person achieved this result,” Ms Bain wrote.  

“At council each elected member has brought diverse and strong opinions which have guided the delivery of all these initiatives.”

Ms Bain also heads up Tourism WA and says, “I know I can have greater impact for the City of Perth and our state as a whole if I dedicate more time to my role as chair of Tourism Western Australia and other professional opportunities that are on the horizon.”

by DAVID BELL