PORT HEDLAND — MAYOR — ALLEGATIONS
1198. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Local Government:
I
refer to recent media reports about the business activities of the Mayor of
Port Hedland and the minister's comments in the media, ''I
do encourage anyone who wishes to come forward to make a formal complaint.''
(1) Is the minister aware of the details outlined in
the media reports published in The Australian of 13 December
regarding the Port Hedland mayor and subsequent media stories?
(2) Is the
minister aware of the formal complaints concerning the matter raised by former
mayor Mr Camilo Blanco with the appropriate authorities in November this year?
(3) What action is the minister
taking to investigate the matters raised in those complaints?
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT:
Order!
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The Minister
for Local Government is aware of recent media reports containing allegations
made against the mayor.
(2) The Minister
for Local Government does not personally investigate or manage the handling of
complaints. Specific processes for the
making and handling of complaints are set out in the Local Government Act 1995
and in other legislation that applies to all local government elected members.
Further, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
advises that due to applicable confidentiality provisions of the Local
Government Act 1995 it cannot disclose specific information about individual
complaints or complaints about specific elected councillors.
(3) When a person
is concerned about a potential breach of the Local Government Act 1995, they
should contact the DLGSC to lodge a complaint in accordance with the act.