Western Australia’s local government inspector is probing more than a dozen complaints relating to the City of Perth’s chief executive, which were laid bare at a behind-closed-doors meeting on Tuesday night in which the “dysfunctional” council was put on notice.
A source with knowledge of the investigation told this masthead that more than 20 people from within the city had made complaints against chief executive Michelle Reynolds.
Those complaints formed part of the evidence a monitor appointed by Local Government Inspector Tony Brown had collected over the course of an investigation spanning almost six months.
In total, more than a dozen complaints against Reynolds are being investigated, and were laid bare to councillors on Tuesday night by Brown as part of a wider discussion on the city as an organisation.
Reynolds told this masthead that while she could not speak in detail about the complaints, she was not surprised some people at the city may have been unhappy.
“Speaking generally, it’s not surprising that some people over the last six years may have been less than happy with how the city’s reform program [following a 2018 inquiry] impacted their daily routines. I understand these matters may relate to that period,” she said.
“The City of Perth inquiry was clear: the culture needed changing. That can be challenging for some people.”
Reynolds said the city’s focus was on doing the best it could for the community.
“In my view, we now have a high performing customer focused team who do a great job for our community. That is our focus,” she said.
Reynolds said the city implemented more than 200 recommendations between 2020 and 2024 as a result of the inquiry, which was ordered after the council was suspended in 2018.
The city also carried out an independent organisational review in 2023/24.
“It’s been a big journey, but we are a better organisation for having challenged ourselves to deliver more for our community,” Reynolds said.
On Wednesday, a City of Perth spokesperson said Reynolds was on leave following the meeting on Tuesday.
It is understood that, following Brown’s briefing, a special council meeting was called by Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds, where councillors voted to place the chief executive on leave pending a review, to be conducted by a law firm.
Brown told ABC Perth on Wednesday that during the meeting he made it clear he expected changes in how those within council understood their roles and responsibilities, how they behaved, and “in particular, their relationships with the administration and each other, which affects their decision-making processes”.
Should no changes be demonstrated by the time the appointed monitor – former Kwinana mayor Carol Adams – finished her term on June 19, Brown foreshadowed “other actions” that could include another inquiry.
On Wednesday afternoon, Local Government Minister Beazley told reporters the conduct at the City of Perth was “simply unbelievable and unacceptable”.
Beazley said as far as she knew, Michelle Reynolds was on leave, and “any matters related to the City of Perth are workforce matters for the city”.
“The city needs to stop the infighting and work together,” she said.
“I will not tolerate dysfunction … from any local government.
“It’s no secret that last year the local government sector had a shocker of a year, and unfortunately 2026 isn’t shaping up any better.”
A City of Perth spokesperson said they were unable to provide a comment as the matters “are ongoing and pertain to confidential personnel and governance matters”.
On Wednesday, Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds – who is not related to Michelle Reynolds – said he was taking the local government inspector’s comments seriously.
“Following a confidential briefing from the Local Government Inspector and the appointed monitor, council considered a range of immediate governance and organisational matters and implemented interim arrangements to ensure continuity of operations while appropriate processes continue,” he said.
“Council recognises the importance of responding appropriately, professionally and constructively to matters raised through independent oversight processes.”
Local Government Inspector Tony Brown was approached for further comment.
From our partners
Read the full article here
