Former MPs and mayor named to run dysfunctional Port Hedland council
Town of Port Hedland commissioners Ron Yuryevich (left), Martin Aldridge and Jessica Shaw (right) with Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley (second from right). (ABC Pilbara: Courtney Withers)
In short:
The WA government has named three commissioners to run the Town of Port Hedland after the council collapsed amid infighting and dysfunction.
Chair of commissioners Jessica Shaw will be joined by retired WA Nationals MLC Martin Aldridge and former Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor Ron Yuryevich.
What's next?
The commissioners will remain in their positions until next year, when a special election will be held on March 28.
Two former West Australian state MPs and a veteran mayor have been tasked with getting the trouble-plagued Town of Port Hedland back on track.
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley confirmed the dismissal of the council and the appointment of commissioners on Tuesday, which followed the resignation of mayor Peter Carter and left the council without enough members to function.
Peter Carter resigned on Monday, leaving the council without a quorum. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)
Former Labor MP Jessica Shaw will be the chair of the commissioners, and will be joined by retired WA Nationals MLC Martin Aldridge and former Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor Ron Yuryevich.
The commissioners are set to be given an extended term and next month's local government elections will be bypassed.
Port Hedland is set to go to the polls at a special election on March 28 next year.
Challenging task ahead
Port Hedland is the third local government to have a commissioner appointed this year.
It is the second time in six years that the council has been dismissed.
Once sworn in, the commissioners will have to rebuild community confidence in a council paralysed by infighting and subject to repeated controversies, including accusations of lewd behaviour against Mr Carter.
Last year councillor Adrian McRae made national headlines after appearing on Russian state TV as an election scrutineer and congratulating President Vladimir Putin on his victory.
The council also controversially passed a motion calling for a suspension of mRNA COVID vaccines.
"I have acted as quickly as humanly possible to provide stability and good governance to the people of Port Hedland," Ms Beazley said.
"My main priority is to see a well-functioning, stable council that puts the interests of Port Hedland at heart."
Port Hedland is a crucial part of WA's mining sector. (ABC Pilbara: Charlie Mills)
Ms Shaw said the importance of Port Hedland to WA's mining industry and broader economy meant its local government played a critical role.
"Port Hedland deserves the best possible public administration and that's what we hope to achieve," she said.
"We want to be very open, very transparent and very collaborative."
More candidates, higher turnout needed
The four remaining councillors had campaigned for Ms Beazley to allow them to continue operating with a reduced quorum.
While permissible under WA's Local Government Act, Ms Beazley ultimately decided it was not an appropriate course of action.
"This is not a government hit-job,"she said.
"This is a result of those elected members voluntarily resigning."
The council's 2019 dismissal and commissionership ultimately failed to resolve the deadlock, with entrenched voting blocs in the community ultimately returning many of the same councillors.
Hannah Beazley says more candidates and a higher voter turnout will be critical to overcoming Port Hedland's leadership deadlock. (ABC Pilbara: Courtney Withers)
Ms Beazley said Mr Carter and other councillors would not be barred from renominating.
"That is their democratic right," she said.
But Ms Beazley said a more diverse field of candidates and higher voter turnout at the election next March could help to ensure a different outcome.
"More nominees from committed community members that are there for the community, not personal reasons," she said.
"It's up to the community themselves — it's about who they vote for.
"I'll certainly be talking to players in Port Hedland about how we can enliven that."
Former Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett says there is a "mountain of work" ahead for the commissioners. (Supplied: North West Festival)
Lack of local input a concern
Former Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett, who had expressed interest in the commissioner's role, said the appointment of three commissioners was a positive step.
But she said the lack of a local voice was a concern.
"Having one commissioner, as we've had in the past, wouldn't have had the desired effect of the reset the local government here needs," Ms Howlett said.
"I think having a local person helps to give that context and understanding of the day-to-day challenges of living and being a resident here."
She also questioned whether the six-month term of the commissioners' appointments would be long enough to get through the "mountain of work" involved in rebuilding the community's trust in the council.
That concern was echoed by former local government Minister Tony Simpson, now a resident of Karratha, the Pilbara's other major centre.
"I think it's a reasonable question, because the commissioners are the council," he said.
"But at the same time, with Port Hedland, we're trying to stabilise it and get it back on track, so I can see why the government has done it this way."
Ms Beazley said an outside perspective would be crucial for the commissioners.
"[Ms Howlett] is a great person," she said.
"But fresh eyes, fresh blood and a fresh start is the best way forward."