From Cr Adrian McRae
In Port Hedland, Western Australia, democratic rights were being stifled by actions that limit the effectiveness of local governance. Port Hedland’s former Mayor had repeatedly used his power to undermine the democratic process, according to Councillor Adrian McRae.
“From vetoing Extraordinary Elections which are needed to replace resigned Councillors, to halting the CEO recruitment process, he has consistently taken actions that disrupt the orderly and democratic functioning of our local government,” Cr McRae said.
“One of the most disconcerting actions was his misrepresentation concerning his resignation, which led to jeopardizing the integrity of our elected body of councillors. These actions threaten the very essence of democracy, a cornerstone of our free society, and must be addressed with urgency and fervor.”
Peter Carter
Currently, Port Hedland is at a critical juncture. The passage of the ’25-’26 Budget is imperative for the town’s development and financial planning. However, due to the disruptions caused by the current political climate, Cr McRae believes Special Council Meeting was necessary.
Such a meeting required a reduced quorum to proceed, and this is where Section 5.7 of the Western Australia Local Government Act (WA LGA) comes into play.
“The mayor resigned deliberately for the council to be dissolved, saying it could be two to four years suspension,” Cr Mc Rae said
“Port Hedland is probably one of most professional councils in Western Australia but if a meeting goes for four hours the local media says the council is dysfunctional,” he said.
“This mayor is 100 per cent working with the state Labor government but the mayor has no authority to speak to governments overseas on behalf of the council, and is not at all popular with the town.
“We call upon the Minister for Local Government to enact Section 5.7 of the WA LGA to allow for a one-off reduced-quorum Special Council Meeting. This action would pave the way for the crucial budget to be passed, enabling Port Hedland to plan and allocate resources effectively for the year ’25-’26.
“Furthermore, we request that Port Hedland be allowed to enter caretaker mode, much like other West Australian Councils, allowing normal operations to continue smoothly until the general WA Council elections in October.
“Our democracy should not be held hostage by those seeking to suppress it. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the governance of Port Hedland puts its citizens first and moves forward with transparency and integrity,” he said.
Cr McRae has urged concerned citizens to sign this petition to demand that the future of Port Hedland is secured through the enactment of Section 5.7, which would guarantee that democracy prevails and the town’s needs are prioritized.
Port Hedland Council was the first in Australia to question the safety of mRNA Covid vaccines causing a storm in Perth when Premier and former Health Minister Roger Cook engaged in a war of words with Cr McRae and the council.https://cairnsnews.org/2024/12/02/wa-premier-admits-hes-chief-knit-wit-over-pt-hedlands-covid-expose/
Sign the petition: https://chng.it/CTTMVfRjjc
