Minister puts Port Hedland council on notice of potential dismissal after another resignation
Western Australia's local government minister has put a trouble-plagued Pilbara council on notice after the resignation of another councillor citing a dysfunctional working environment.
The Town of Port Hedland has been wracked by controversies in recent years, including a councillor endorsing Vladimir Putin, councillors calling to suspend COVID vaccinations, allegations of lewd behaviour and entrenched personal conflicts.
The port town, 1,630 kilometres north of Perth, is a major economic hub in WA and is home to the world's largest bulk export port, exporting more than 500 million tonnes of iron ore annually.
The warning from Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley comes after councillor Ambika Rebello tendered her resignation from the council this week citing dysfunction and a lack of effective governance.
Her resignation, the fourth since November last year, leaves just five elected members.
Ms Rebello, who was elected in October 2023, said her time on council was "marked by controversy and instability".
"There has been a level of dysfunction where we are not able to take decisive action," she said.
In a resignation letter seen by the ABC, Ms Rebello said "theatre" had replaced "constructive governance" and she had tendered her resignation "with a heavy heart".
"When we use those formal meetings as theatre — then that in my eyes is a level of dysfunction," Ms Rebello said.
Ms Rebello said the decision to resign was not an easy one and she had been proud to serve her community.
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said the news of Ms Rebello's resignation was concerning.
She said she had begun the process to dismiss the council, if required.
"I have made it very clear that I will not tolerate councils who do not provide the expected good governance to their respective districts," Ms Beazley said.
Over recent years, the Town of Port Hedland has been reported widely for controversies within council and administration.
In 2019 the council was sensationally dismissed due to ongoing complaints of dysfunction and poor governance.
Allegations against the council have continued since then, with Mayor Peter Carter accused of lewd behaviour at a school board meeting in 2022.
In 2024 the town made international headlines after newly-elected councillor Adrian McRae appeared on Russian state TV congratulating President Putin on his victory.
In the same year the council endorsed a motion brought forward by Cr McRae calling for a suspension of mRNA COVID vaccines.
The ongoing issues have led the state government to act, sending a letter to the council in 2024 ordering members to act to tackle a "breakdown in relationships".
Last year Premier Roger Cook raised concerns over "extreme views" on the council and urged it to "stick to its knitting" following the controversial COVID-19 vaccine motion.
In a statement to the ABC, Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter acknowledged "the council faces some challenges and will continue to work to address things".
Mr Carter said the town has informed the WA Electoral Commission of the vacancy and will act on the advice of the commission.
With the resignation of Cr Rebello, just five elected members remain on council, the minimum amount required to reach a quorum.
If there is no special election for Ms Rebello's seat any councillor absence in future meetings will mean the cancellation of those meetings.
Mr Carter said he was confident the council will be able to consistently meet a quorum and "continue normal council business".
Former WA minister for local government and Pilbara resident Tony Simpson said Port Hedland was "an interesting one to watch".
"The first thing the department would be looking at is providing government — making sure they're passing their motions and providing services," he told the ABC.
"If another councillor does resign then the minister will have to appoint a commissioner to oversee the town and be the council."
Western Australia's local government elections are next due in October.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. But shockingly, 41 per cent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' with the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 per cent), followed by anxiety (42 per cent) and financial pressures (26 per cent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 per cent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 per cent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating said they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work... and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. Dr Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 per cent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 per cent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw.
The Australian
2 hours ago
- The Australian
Krystel Paul's sister raises money for her niece
The sister of a mother who was allegedly killed by her husband in a suspected murder suicide is raising money to support the couple's child, now in her care following the tragedy. The bodies of Krystel and James Paul, both aged 41, were found after emergency services were called to a Cairns home about 7.15pm on Tuesday to conduct a welfare check. When officers arrived at the Mount Sheridan home on Verbena Dr they found both bodies with gunshot wounds. Those close to Ms Paul said she was allegedly planning to leave her husband, The Cairns Post reported. Mr Paul was reportedly a registered gun owner who kept multiple firearms at the home. The bodies of Krystel and James Paul were found on Tuesday evening following a welfare check. Picture: Instagram. Ms Paul's sister, Jasmin Bolt, has set up a fundraiser to support the couple's child, who had sought help from a neighbour on Tuesday evening. More than $10,000 has been raised on the Go Fund Me page, with Ms Bolt writing she would be looking after he niece, along with her mother, following her sister's death. 'I need to make sure (her niece) is financially secure for her future, to help with schooling moving forward,' Ms Bolt wrote on the fundraiser. 'Thank you everyone for your kind words and support.' Cairns' Police Detective Acting Inspector Alina Bell earlier told media the couple's nine-year old daughter had gone to neighbour Danna Lancini's home to seek help on Tuesday evening. 'We provided an immediate response due to the concerns of the welfare of the occupants of that house, and unfortunately upon arrival, both male and female were located deceased,' Acting Inspector Bell said. Ms Lancini said the young girl told her 'dad sent me here because (my mum) is dead', the Cairns Post reported. '(Her dad) told her to run to (my) house and then ring her grandma and tell her that the mum's dead,' Ms Lancini said. 'I didn't believe it …(but) he must've rung the ambulance because when I looked out, the police was there. 'It happened all at one … the daughter was in shock, and the police didn't really say anything.'
The Australian
2 hours ago
- The Australian
Jace McMurray's magic moment with first Saturday success in Sydney
Boom young apprentice Jace McMurray enjoyed a moment to savour at Rosehill Gardens, booting home his first Sydney metropolitan Saturday winner aboard Edited By. Queenslander McMurray, 18, has been up and running in Sydney for about a month now and is quickly turning heads among the training ranks, exhibiting balance and poise well beyond his years. And those attributes were on full display when guiding Edited By to an all-the-way victory in the Ranvet Handicap Benchmark 78 (1500m) for his master Michael Freedman which doubled as his first career Rosehill Gardens triumph. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I was swinging on him at the 600m mark and was just thinking when I let you go please don't stop,' an elated McMurray said post race. 'He was really tough to the line and gave me his all. One to remember.' Fighting off any number of challengers late, McMurray dropped the whip in the drive to the line but didn't panic, switching to hands and heels to get the job done in style. 'Little mistake there … Thankfully the post came up there in time and he kept responding for me,' McMurray added. Edited By's victory came after McMurray finished second aboard the Freedman-trained Codetta a race earlier. Stable representative Sophie Johnson was full of praise for McMurray's steady hand in returning Edited By to the winner's stall at a track he excels at. • Little brother follows in Private Eye's footsteps with impressive win 'He's very consistent and always gives his all, he loves being out in front and dictating and Jace allowed him to do just that today,' Johnson said. 'With Jace being part of the team now being able to use his 3kg claim is a big plus for us, especially on a difficult horse to place like him (Edited By) because he's crept up in the ratings very quickly. 'It makes trying to find the right race pretty hard but with Jace's claim we can put it to good use. It was the difference today there late.' Edited By ($12) scored by a long head at the finish ahead of a fast finishing Pure Alpha ($5) while Little Cointreau ($4.40) was a further neck away in third. Edited By's Saturday success followed a midweek double for McMurray after guiding the Freedman-trained Just Feelin' Lucky and Inside Man to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday. The latter of the two wins notched up a career milestone for McMurray as his 100th win in the saddle. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Godolphin to pick out winter options for Kerguelen Team Godolphin will temper their expectations with Kerguelen despite the four-year-old's impressive return to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The lightly raced son of Lonhro hadn't been seen at the races since last November but with two eye-catching trials under his belt, returned victorious under the urgings of Kerrin McEvoy. The gritty win, getting the better of Brave One over the concluding stages, extended Kerguelen's career record to three wins and three second from the six appearances. Godolphin stable representative Paul Reid said the stable would map out a winter schedule for the well-bred type. • Eagle Farm to host Super Saturday after Derby Day washout 'He looked like he was the first horse under pressure at the corner but he kept coming and battled away really well,' Reid said. 'The other horse (Brave One) had the inside run on us so it was a really good effort. 'I think for where he's at he's well suited in the winter with the wet tracks and James will just place him accordingly for now. 'To win first up with a bit of weight was a good effort.' Kerrin McEvoy, who claimed a Godolphin double after Zebra Finch landed the two-year-old event, said the gelding raced right up to his looks in the yard. 'Today was my first time on his back and he really took my eye in the parade,' McEvoy said. 'He's a nice horse and gave me a really good feel. He travelled like the winner during the race and to dig in first up at the 1200m like that was a good effort.'
