City of Perth councillors have accepted thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts since October, with Perron Group, Rio Tinto and Primewest among a notable list of benefactors.
City of Perth councillors have accepted thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts since October, with Perron Group, Rio Tinto and Primewest among a notable list of benefactors.
That’s according to the city’s newly released gift register, which is published as part of the local government’s transparency and accountability requirements.
It shows the city’s lord mayor and eight councillors received $3,989 worth of gifts between the council’s election on October 17 and the end of last year.
All councillors bar Viktor Ko disclosed having received at least one gift in that 10-week period.
Di Bain, formerly chair of Activate Perth, received the highest value of gifts at $1,045, with an invitation to the opening of Prendiville Group’s Samphire Rottnest the largest of them, valued at $300.
Other significant gifts include an invitation to Russell Gibbs’ Christmas party, valued at $100, and a ticket to the Telethon Kids Institute’s ball in October, worth $250.
Ms Bain is on the advisory board for the institute.
Lord mayor Basil Zempilas receipted gifts worth $990, the second highest value of gifts claimed by anyone on council, with attendance at a Government House Foundation’s dinner for donors listed as $200 in value.
Perron Group, which is listed as having given a $100 gift for deputy lord mayor Sandy Anghie and an $80 gift to councillor Liam Gobbert, is listed as gifting Mr Zempilas a speaking slot for the opening of Central Park’s lobby in October, valued at $40.
Other candidates to receive notable gifts include: Ms Anghie, who accepted a $120 gift from not-for-profit group Auspire; Mr Gobbert, who received a gift from his former constituency of City of Joondalup; and Brent Fleeton, who received a $100 gift from Perth Airport to attend a Business News Politics & Policy briefing with Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.
Clyde Bevan, who owns and operates Friends Restaurant on St Georges Terrace, receipted an invitation to a West Perth Local meeting as his only gift.
Catherine Lezer and Mr Gobbert also receipted having been invited to that meeting, valuing the gift at $50 and $20 each.
Mr Bevan, however, valued this gift at $0.
The city’s gift registry comes after the city earlier this month declared a $15 million fall in total revenue this past financial year.
Messrs Bevan, Gobbert, Fleeton and Ko will be up for re-election in October, when their single-year term expires.
