Special Report: City of Perth

The City of Perth is targeting businesses in the lead-up to May's council elections as voter apathy again threatens to deny business an effective role in the city's affairs.

Business people wanting to have their say in the upcoming City of Perth elections have less than three weeks to enrol, with registrations closing on Friday March 18.

While the business sector's apparent lack of involvement in the affairs of the City of Perth council is considered a sign of apathy or a lack of interest, an argument could be mounted that a hands-off approach is a sign that all's well.

The balance of power between state and local government often results in a relationship that's almost parental in its functioning, complete with the tension that type of relationship often invokes.

Calls for a capital city charter to give special status to the City of Perth as a valuable asset to Western Australia, and also as containing a unique constituency, have been made for some time.

In terms of revenue, at $84 million, the City of Perth is ranked only behind the City of Stirling and the City of Wannreoo.

The City of Perth's engagement with the business community is not just about registering voters, it also involves getting quality business candidates onto council.