Latest news with #HannahBeazley
West Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Food bowl of WA hosts series of culinary events as 2025 Gascoyne Food Festival officially kicks off
The Gascoyne Food Festival has officially opened its 2025 season, with a cornucopia of events to celebrate the region's produce, people and places from beach to bush. The festivities kicked off on Saturday with 200 diners enjoying the Long Table Lunch under a canopy of banana plantations in Carnarvon. The feast, curated by renowned chef Ben Ing, championed locally sourced seafood, beef and fresh produce. This week's events include Around the Fire Pit on Wednesday, a feast beneath the stars with bush tucker and storytelling and a kombucha workshop at the Waterfront Café on Thursday. Prawns and Pimm's at the Carnarvon Races will be held on Friday, while the Bullara Station Beef Fest will take place on Saturday night. The food festival — recognised as Australia's biggest regional food festival — will run until August 31, with 16 events across Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay, and the Upper Gascoyne. Its finale, a two-day event on Dirk Hartog Island, aptly titled Australia's Last Sunset, promises to be an unforgettable dining experience on Australia's westernmost point. Gascoyne Minister Hannah Beazley launched the long-table lunch on Saturday. 'The Gascoyne Food Festival is a wonderful celebration of what makes the region so special, from its passionate producers to its rich cultural and culinary diversity,' she said. Ms Beazley said she was 'proud to support this incredible event that not only draws visitors to the region but also creates jobs and opportunities for small businesses'. Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the festival shone a light on premium regional produce and the hardworking growers, fishers and pastoralists behind it. 'Events like this are key to strengthening our State's food industry and building stronger connections between producers, chefs and consumers,' she said. Member for the Mid-West and Nationals WA leader Shane Love attended the Long Table Lunch and said it was 'a fantastic showcase of the quality and range of produce grown in the Gascoyne'. 'I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the other events that are part of the Gascoyne Food Festival this month — it's a great opportunity to support communities right across the Gascoyne and experience some of the best produce Western Australia has to offer,' he said. Foodies can check out the full program at
ABC News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Problem-plagued City of Nedlands referred to Corruption and Crime Commission
A trouble-plagued Perth local government has been referred to the state's corruption watchdog following years of turmoil in its ranks. The City of Nedlands made headlines this month when four councillors resigned, leaving it without a quorum and prompting the local government minister to remove those remaining and appoint commissioners in their place. An ABC investigation can now reveal separate concerns about the City of Nedlands have been referred to the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) by the Public Sector Commission. The ABC understands the referral took place earlier this month. This step is in addition to recent concerns about governance, audits and workplace complaints that have formed the basis of investigations by the Department of Local Government and Worksafe. A referral to the CCC does not mean it will launch an investigation and the ABC is not suggesting that a referral implies any findings of wrongdoing. On Wednesday, three commissioners were appointed to run the council until a special election is held on March 28, circumventing scheduled elections in October. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said this was to give the trio time to ensure the next budget was passed. Financial irregularities at the council were highlighted by the auditor-general last year. In a damning report, he found the council failed to keep accurate enough records needed to complete an annual audit. Commissioner chair David Caddy said he and his colleagues were committed to bringing trust and integrity back into the governance systems at the council. A separate investigation has been running by the Department of Local Government into the council since May. The minister said that investigation was examining "the functioning of the council, how they were operating, the behaviours that were on display and how that was affecting good governance at the council". It is now finished but not finalised, but the minister said the results of such investigations were not usually made public, although they would be provided to the newly-appointed commissioners. She said it was possible the outcome could provide grounds for an inquiry by her office, which would invoke broader powers under the Local Government Act. Controversy also haunted the council in recent months after it refused to give up land to the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation for a parkland for sick and dying children. Mayor Fiona Argyle issued a statement on Wednesday saying she had been "rolled" by the state government for doing her job "protecting A-class nature reserves from property developers". "If I do run again, I can assure the community there will be no property developer getting their hands on the most protected lands in our nation," Ms Argyle said. The Perth Children's Hospital, a registered charity, wanted to transform Allen Park into a parkland for terminally ill children. In a now-infamous interview on ABC Radio Perth earlier this month, Ms Argyle defended that decision, saying it was like "giving away" Hyde Park or Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. "No one on this planet is against dying children, no one hates dying children, everyone loves dying children," she said. "What I don't like and the city doesn't like, it was a unanimous decision, that is the city's land." The state government took control of the land in early June in order to progress the children's hospice.
ABC News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Former minister says WA government could easily enact shire takeover
Former local government minister Tony Simpson says a so-called boundary adjustment could be sealed with the "stroke of a pen", amid concerns from ratepayers about the proposed tie-up of two councils in regional Western Australia. The Shire of Coolgardie in WA's Goldfields is fighting for survival amid debts of more than $27.5 million and a government-led push to merge with its much larger neighbour, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Representatives from both councils met this week in Perth with Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley, who also has her hands full with the troubled City of Nedlands. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is yet to publicly reveal if it is for or against the proposed tie-up, while the Shire of Coolgardie has threatened possible legal action. "I would think, given their financial situation, they would have better things to spend their money on," Ms Beazley told reporters on Wednesday. The government's language has carefully avoided the words merger or amalgamation, despite the end result being effectively the same, with the Shire of Coolgardie dissolved. Ms Beazley said the process would include public consultation. "They are two very different things; it's just because one entity is adjusting the boundaries, only affecting one other, so it is not affecting multiple local government areas." Under WA's Local Government Act, a merger or amalgamation requires majority support from ratepayers in both local government areas. But Mr Simpson said the boundary adjustment put forward for Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie-Boulder could be accomplished with the "stroke of a pen". "In a merger, local government goes to the polls and if 50 per cent of a community turns up and says no, you've got yourself into a corner where you can't force it any further," he said. Mr Simpson, who is a City of Karratha councillor, said he tried unsuccessfully during his time as minister to reduce the number of Perth councils from 30 to 15. "I failed miserably, for a number of reasons," he said. "Local governments put up a very good battle." Mr Simpson said the combination of the Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie-Boulder councils would make the Goldfields region stronger. "A larger local government has a stronger capacity to deliver more services and keep rates flowing. That is proven over and over, so I think it would be worthwhile," he said. "If the debt is the only issue, we should put that aside in the business case and have a look at the strength of the two local governments coming together." Former Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor John Bowler, also a former local government minister in the Carpenter government, said there was little incentive for the larger city to take on Coolgardie. Mr Bowler said the Shire of Coolgardie's plan to sell council-owned workers' accommodation should be allowed to play out to see if it could return debt to manageable levels. "I don't think anything's going to happen while there's unrecovered debt," he said. "Why should the ratepayers of Kalgoorlie-Boulder pay for the mistakes of Coolgardie? "First of all, I think we have to let Coolgardie see how they go with the sale of that camp." Mr Bowler said he was approached to play a role in the tie-up, but said he would not consider getting involved until the Shire of Coolgardie's debt was retired. "The trouble is the size of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is about 10 times bigger and it really wouldn't be a joint, equal merger," he said. A long-time resident of the tiny community of Widgiemooltha and former Coolgardie shire councillor, Jan McLeod, said any takeover by Kalgoorlie-Boulder would limit her community's voice. "Any representation on council will be lost by sheer weight of numbers," she said. "It's not good for local government, which is the government closest to the people." Ms McLeod said there would be a loss of identity for residents. "The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder does not service any regional towns; there will be staffing issues," she said. Ms Beazley denied there would be staffing issues. "That's the solutions and options we're working through at the moment," she said. "There would still need to be local services and a footprint in Coolgardie to ensure that community is well served."
ABC News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Nedlands election delayed after council sacked, as mayor Fiona Argyle says she was rolled
Nedlands council will remain in the hands of commissioners for longer than anticipated following the sacking of its mayor and elected councillors, after the election of a new council was delayed. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley has appointed three commissioners to run the council after last month sacking all of the elected councillors, including the mayor Fiona Argyle. The move came after four councillors resigned within hours of each other, leaving the council without a quorum, with Ms Beazlley describing the situation as an "embarrassing" saga of "dysfunction and disunity". The council was already under investigation by the Department of Local Government over claims of governance breaches, and Ms Beazley said that probe was expected to conclude in coming weeks. Local government elections are slated to be held in October this year, but Ms Beazley said on Wednesday the Nedlands election would be rescheduled for March, to give the commissioners time to investigate the issues leading up to the sacking. Former WA Planning Commission chair David Caddy, a former Nedlands deputy mayor, has been appointed chair of the council, assisted by commissioners Bianca Sandri and Cath Hart. Mr Caddy said he and his fellow commissioners were "committed to bringing trust and integrity back into the governance system in the City of Nedlands." "We have a huge task ahead of us," he said. Mayor Fiona Argyle told the ABC she was not under investigation from the department and believed she had been targeted for political purposes. "I was elected mayor two times by a popular vote of the community and have ben rolled by the WA state government for doing my job," she said. Ms Argyle said this included "protecting Class A nature reserves from property developer." The City of Nedlands has been under scrutiny over its opposition to a proposed park for terminally ill children and their families next to WA's first children's hospice. The park was to be built on a class-A reserve, set aside for high conservation areas, but the land had significantly deteriorated over years. Council argued it wanted to develop the site itself, but the state's planning minister stepped in and took control of the land. One of the councillors who resigned last month cited the hospice park issue as one of the main reasons for quitting.
ABC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Shire of Coolgardie defies WA local government minister over proposed merger
A debt-laden outback council has threatened legal action to hold off a would-be merger with its larger neighbour. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley rose in state parliament in June to slam "gross mismanagement" at the Shire of Coolgardie, which she described as a "financial mess" amid concerns about its ongoing viability. Council documents show the the shire owed creditors $2.8 million at June 30, while carrying debt of $27.5 million with just $2.9 million cash in the bank. Ms Beazley proposed a "boundary adjustment" with the neighbouring City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, but has since been inundated with letters from ratepayers in both communities opposed to the merger. Coolgardie councillors on Monday endorsed a position paper detailing its fight to maintain its independence. The shire said it would "explore its legal position" should Ms Beazley force an amalgamation. Shire president Malcolm Cullen said the council wanted to work with the Department of Local Government over the next 12 months while trying to achieve financial and organisational stability. Mr Cullen and Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor Glenn Wilson were due to fly to Perth on Tuesday morning for another meeting with the minister after she told both councils to reach a joint position at a meeting last month. "The position that we will be taking to the meeting is basically to provide the shire more time to look at enacting a financial recovery plan that will return the shire to financial stability and also organisational stability for the future," Mr Cullen said. "Certainly, just request that there be a bit a little bit of breathing space so that both the Shire of Coolgardie and the city can work through a number of issues that have been identified in discussions so far." City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder councillors discussed the proposed boundary adjustment behind closed doors at Monday night's ordinary council meeting, where the council also endorsed its 2025-26 Budget. Mayor Glenn Wilson said a boundary adjustment was a legislative process which was different to an amalgamation or merger. He said the Shire of Coolgardie would be dissolved if the action went ahead. He said the council had been asked by the minister's office to keep its formal position confidential until after Tuesday's meeting. But Mr Wilson did concede there was little to be gained by taking on the Shire of Coolgardie's mountain of debt. "There has to be nothing that our residents pay for out of this … our residents and our community should not bear the brunt of others' debt," he said. The Shire of Coolgardie has already proposed the sale of a controversial workers' accommodation village in Kambalda, which was built in 2022 by the council to take advantage of the Goldfields' most recent mining boom. The 328-room Bluebush Village was last valued in March in the range of $16.4 million to $19.4 million. Occupancy rates were as low as 25 per cent earlier this year. The shire said it planned to advertise Bluebush Village for sale by public tender from next month, evaluate offers in November and make a final decision on a proposed transaction in January. Mr Cullen said early estimates suggested the sale would lower debt to manageable levels. "It's in the ballpark, it's a ballpark figure," he said. Residents of both the Shire of Coolgardie and City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder have voiced their opposition to the merger in letters to the minister's office. Kambalda real estate agent Cheryl Davis requested the minister delay a decision until the shire's financial situation was properly assessed. She said the shire was making positive strides in operational improvement and renewed community engagement. "These early signs of progress are encouraging, and we believe the shire should be given a fair opportunity to continue this momentum without the added pressure of structural changes at this time," Ms Davis said. Kalgoorlie business owner Greg Bowden told the minister it would be "unfair and impractical" to expect the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to take on responsibility for another local government while dealing with "its own internal challenges". "The risk of further instability and long-term financial pressure on both communities is real if this is rushed," he said. Fellow Kalgoorlie business owner John Bruce was concerned an amalgamation would place an "unfair and unsustainable burden" on ratepayers and businesses in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. "Our city should not be expected to absorb the consequences of long-term mismanagement, nor take on liabilities and debt accumulated by another local government without adequate assessment and consultation." Coolgardie RSL sub-branch secretary Ann Meagher told the minister Coolgardie was "more than just a dot on the map". "We have weathered storms before, and while we acknowledge the current challenges faced by the shire, we truly believe there is still time and opportunity to turn things around," she wrote. The Parents and Citizen Association at Coolgardie Primary School also wrote to the minister with an urgent request to delay any boundary changes. "We are considering the children of Coolgardie and the impact amalgamating with Kalgoorlie will cause," Coolgardie P&C president Coriana Boothey said. "It is a major concern that as a small community and small school that we will be left behind and not receive the support we are in need of."
