Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi returns to office 'refreshed' after suspension overturned
Updated
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has resumed her office saying she is "refreshed and keen" after successfully challenging an 18-month disqualification for failing to declare tens of thousands of dollars of gifts and travel.
This morning Mrs Scaffidi fronted media to mark her return to work four months after stepping aside to challenge the ban, but declined to answer any questions on the ongoing saga.
In September she was banned from office by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), which found she had breached the Local Government Act on 45 occasions.
The breaches included trips to the Beijing Olympics and Cable Beach in Broome, paid for by BHP and Hawaiian Investments and worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Mrs Scaffidi successfully challenged the ban, with WA's Court of Appeal throwing out 26 of the alleged 45 breaches of the act, in a decision in December.
A decision on remaining 19 breaches is expected late next month by the SAT.
'No bad blood'
Mrs Scaffidi said despite previous conflicts between her and other council members she was confident there was no bad blood on her return.
In 2016 a long-time supporter of Mrs Scaffidi, Janet Davidson, moved a motion of no-confidence against then deputy mayor James Limnios, after he publicly called on Mrs Scaffidi to stand down.
She has also taken a public swing at councillor Reece Harley on social media over his commentary on a ban on members of the council other than the mayor speaking to the media. The media gag was repealed in July last year.
Cr Limnios and Cr Harley remain on the City of Perth council, although Mr Limnios is no longer deputy mayor.
Bad blood between the two councillors remains after they each recommended the other to the Corruption and Crime Commission amid accusations of bribery in the race to become acting Lord Mayor.
Mrs Scaffidi said whether or not she had majority support on the council was irrelevant as more than 95 per cent of decisions were unanimous.
"I'm a fair individual, I work professionally and I think really what it comes down to is aligned thinking on key issues," she said.
"If you are an informed councillor, and you are speaking to your stakeholders, alignment will come about the needs of what individuals want in a city.
"I don't believe a majority are opposed to me, I believe they will see I am a very professional operator, I allow everyone to speak when they need to speak, I'm just chairing the meeting."
Government 'surprised' by return to duties
Mrs Scaffidi said she was prepared to put personal differences aside after both Local Government Minister David Templeman and Premier Mark McGowan repeatedly called for her to step down over the expenses scandal.
"That says more about them than it does about me. I am a professional individual, and I can certainly put my differences aside and get on with the job at hand," Mrs Scaffidi said.
Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said her government's views on the situation were clear, and there needed to be a constructive relationship with the City of Perth.
"I think we're all surprised that the Lord Mayor has resumed her duties," she said.
"Currently it's an issue for her and the council.
"I'm surprised, but I'm looking at outcomes, I want to achieve outcomes."
Mrs Scaffidi would not be drawn on whether she would take another tilt for the position when the election came around in two years' time.
She also flagged the parking levy, which funds public CAT buses, and diversifying the economy as key issues on her radar.
Topics: local-government, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa
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