'Like slaying Satan':Suspended Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi's relationship to key council figures in inquiry's crosshairs
Suspended Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has fronted the City of Perth inquiry this morning, as investigators turned their attention to the relationships between key council figures and the heritage listing of a property owned by Ms Scaffidi and her husband.
Counsel assisting the inquiry Kate Ellson detailed areas of council business which would come under scrutiny to “put rumours to rest and sort fact from fiction”.
These included the circumstances around a two year delay in the heritage listing of a hotel by the City, in which Ms Scaffidi and her husband Joe had a significant financial interest.
The inquiry would also examine the relationships between the Lord Mayor, the council and City of Perth staff, including why former CEO Gary Stevenson was sacked in 2016 and replaced with Martin Mileham.
Ms Ellson began Monday's hearing by exploring Ms Scaffidi's relationship with Mr Stevenson.
Responding to Ms Ellson's opening questions, Ms Scaffidi denied referring to Mr Stevenson as "Satan" or removing him from his position was like "slaying Satan".
She was questioned about whether she expected Mr Stevenson to withhold complaints about the council to the CCC if it "suited her", which she denied.
Ms Scaffidi said she believed not all matters were CCC issues and said suspended councillor James Limnios said he wanted Mr Stevenson to "have his back".
Ms Ellson probed whether Ms Scaffidi should have declared a conflict of interest before appointing a human resources consultant who advised on Mr Stevenson's performance assessment.
In an opening statement to the inquiry, Ms Ellson warned witnesses against giving untruthful or evasive answers.
The public hearings into this part of the inquiry are expected to run for two weeks.
Ms Scaffidi had been suspended by the State Appeals Tribunal for seven months in July, 2018, for breaching the Local Government Act by not disclosing accommodation and travel gifts, including a trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics paid for by BHP Billiton.
The Lord Mayor’s suspension was moot as the state government had already sacked the City of Perth’s council for dysfunction in May, 2018, appointed commissioners and launched an inquiry.
She has since signalled she may not return to the job, regardless of the findings of the inquiry, in a cryptic social media post.
"I'm ... watching from the sidelines while paying substantial property rates that look like they're doing little more than subsidising free parking," she Tweeted.
"There'll be 'no return'. I'm moving on. Happy to leave politics to those party apparatchiks."
The hearing continues.