Perth Voice Interactive

FORMER Bayswater councillor Sally Palmer is seeking a comeback at the upcoming extraordinary election for North Ward after complex political manoeuvring saw her left without a seat at October’s vote. 

Ms Palmer got the second highest votes in North Ward at the bi-annual elections, and a provision in the Local Government Act would have allowed her to step into the empty seat left by councillor Filomena Piffaretti stepping up into the role of popularly-elected mayor. 

But the LGA didn’t cover the unusual situation that unfolded just before the election, when Ms Piffaretti resigned but went on to win the mayoral role (“Piffaretti’s manoeuvre ousts critic,” Voice, October 28, 2023).

That meant instead of a simple next-in-line replacement, an extraordinary election has to be held in March to fill Ms Piffaretti’s now-empty ward seat.

“There was no warning whatsoever,” Cr Palmer told the Voice this week. “This was four days before the result, and after everyone spent their time and money.”

In her time on council Ms Palmer had voted against the mayor on some key issues, but she told us “I’m a tough fighter when it comes to council motions, but I’d never be rude of disrespectful.”

Ms Palmer not being on council has given a five-month stretch where Cr Piffaretti’s regular supporters hold the balance of power, and has already affected at least one key council decision (“Childcare plan tied up,” Voice, December 2, 2023).

At the December 12 council meeting Ms Palmer stood up during public question time to ask Ms Piffaretti: “With the $70,000-plus cost of the forthcoming by-election, which you caused, to be held in March 2024… where will the cuts occur to pay this approximate $70,000?”

Cuts

Ms Piffaretti referred the question to CEO Jeremy Edwards, who said it come from savings found elsewhere in the budget and it’d be considered at the upcoming mid-year budget review. 

Along with costing the city, this scenario has also meant Ms Palmer will pay for two election campaigns.

While not providing exact numbers, Ms Palmer said “just in costs alone, in paperwork, signage and so forth, let’s assume that costs $7,000 or $8,000.

“[Then] assume that this next election will cost $7,000 or $8,000.”

Ms Palmer says her priorities if she makes it back on council are to ensure Embleton Golf Course remains intact and to get more of a share of council funds spent on north ward projects. 

by DAVID BELL