News Articles for Tony Simpson

Among the huge list of council hopefuls is the usual swag of business people, community heroes, colourful characters and eyebrow-raising pitches which make elections great.

Former local government minister Tony Simpson will campaign for better boating facilities, major retailers to set up shop, and more youth entertainment.

Councils, industry bodies and former policymakers are divided on the merits of the state government's plans to reform WA's third tier of government.

Hawaiian Ride for Youth is still turning a wheel, celebrating its 20th year while other charity bike rides drop out.

While council amalgamations have been extensive across Australia in recent decades, organised opposition and one blundered attempt has made it a nonstarter here in WA.

Whether as a stepping stone to higher duties or a role post-politics, local government provides an opportunity to serve.

ANALYSIS: Outgoing Liberal minister Joe Francis, who appears to have lost his seat of Jandakot, says Colin Barnett should have been replaced as premier last year to improve the government's re-election prospects.

Uncertainty about the direction of the government and its leadership is likely to persist despite the premier's win last week.

Bill Marmion will pick up the transport portfolio in a minor cabinet reshuffle that also includes the introduction of two new ministers; Paul Miles and Mark Lewis.

Colin Barnett has seen off an attempted spill motion at today's party room meeting by 31 votes to 15, emerging with what he claimed was a united Liberal team after a ‘therapeutic' exercise.

Colin Barnett says he is confident he has the support to continue as premier if there is a leadership spill this week, following the resignation of ministers Dean Nalder and Tony Simpson over the weekend.

Embattled Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says she doesn't fear a possible leadership challenge.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi could face proceedings in the State Administrative Tribunal after a report tabled in parliament alleged that she failed to declare travel and gifts up to 45 times over seven years.

A report into Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi's travel scandal is in its final stages and will be released publicly, Local Government Minister Tony Simpson says.

Managing the state's economic transition was the main focus of today's cabinet reshuffle, Premier Colin Barnett said, with tourism and agriculture in his sights as key growth industries.

The state government will be glad to put 2015 behind it, but there will be no let up in the financial and portfolio challenges it will face next year.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson says he's aware Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi is threatening to resign in the face of another inquiry into her conduct.

The premier may be lining up for a second dig at local government reform.

Lisa Scaffidi is no stranger to the responsibilities of public office, which is why the imbroglio currently surrounding her is so perplexing.

After failing to implement its council amalgamation plan, the government is targeting funding arrangements.

Neither the premier nor his minister ever provided evidence to support their council amalgamation plan.

Much has been made of Colin Barnett's decision to run up the white flag after referendum results in three local government areas, which rejected council amalgamation proposals. It was a humiliating result for a key government reform, strongly promoted by the premier.

The state government has passed the onus for reform onto local government authorities, with boundary adjustments only set to proceed if they are backed by the councils involved.

UPDATE: The Western Australian Local Government Association has called on the state government to abandon its local council amalgamations, saying the process has become unravelled in the wake

Colin Barnett is in for his biggest test as premier in 2015, as mounting financial woes threaten to drain his political capital.

Local government minister Tony Simpson has suspended the Shire of York's president and councillors for six months and has appointed former South Perth mayor James Best to oversee the local council.

The state government will legislate to include the University of Western Australia, Kings Park, the QEII Medical Centre and the City of Vincent in the City of Perth, but will not include the Burswood Peninsula after that proposal was rejected by the independent Local Government Advisory Board.

The government's plans for local council amalgamations have met strong opposition from some quarters, but not the big end of town.

Colin Barnett's determined push to cut the number of local councils is a great example of how out of touch politicians are with public opinion.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson has used a speech to the Western Australian Local Government Association AGM to urged councils to reform and harmonise regulations across the state.

Legal action launched by three metropolitan area councils against Local Government Minister Tony Simpson is a ‘disappointing, last-ditch attempt' to derail the merger process, the Property Council

The state government is looking at new ways to stoke tourism-related development on Western Australia's coastline, with the Abrolhos Islands and Coral Bay identified as priority areas.

The entrepreneurial talents of Tony Loxton, founder of Digital Dialogue, were recognised last night when he was named First Amongst Equals in front an audience of 980 people at the 2014 40under40 awards.

The state government has finalised its preferred model for local council reform, putting forward new boundaries that would cut the number of metropolitan councils by half to 15 - one more than under proposals released in July.

Bad economic news and some personnel mismanagement are putting pressure on Colin Barnett's leadership.

Business News for Western Australia. Tuesday July 30. Jessica Taylor reports. City councils to merge. Pan Asian snares WD Moore & Co. Keith Gordon resigns from Emeco Holdings and more.

THE near certainty of a Coalition government being elected in September, and the single-handed control of state leader Colin Barnett, have reshaped Western Australia's 2013 Most Influential list –

Tony Simpson new Aurex MD