Lisa Scaffidi

Lisa-Michelle Scaffidi (née Sanders; born 12 February 1960) is a former Lord Mayor of Perth, Western Australia. The first female Lord Mayor of Perth, Scaffidi became mayor following the October 2007 council elections, after the retirement of her predecessor, Peter Nattrass, who served a record twelve years in the position.[3] Scaffidi and the rest of the City of Perth council were suspended on 2 March 2018, while the state government investigated the council's operations.[4]

Lisa Scaffidi
55th Lord Mayor of Perth
In office 20 October 2007 – 19 October 2019 Suspended: 2 March 2018 – 19 October 2019
Deputy	Jemma Green[1]
Preceded by	Peter Nattrass
Succeeded by	Basil Zempilas
Personal details
Born	Lisa-Michelle Sanders 12 February 1960 Perth, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Joe Scaffidi[2]

Early life

Scaffidi was educated at Churchlands Primary School and Methodist Ladies' College after which she graduated as a dental therapist from the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University). She served as an air hostess with TAA in 1980, worked in the hospitality industry in a marketing capacity and, in the 1990s, helped to promote export of semi-precious stones. She was the WA State Director of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) for over ten years.[5]

She served two terms as a councillor before successfully contesting the lord-mayoralty.[6]

Corruption and Crime Commission

In October 2015, the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia found that Scaffidi had "signally failed in her duties" as lord mayor by accepting and failing to declare a $31,000 travel package to the 2008 Beijing Olympics from BHP, and other gifts from private companies that have dealings with the City of Perth. The commission found that Scaffidi had committed acts of "serious misconduct" but believed she had not acted corruptly.[7][8][9]

In 2016, Scaffidi insulted journalist Liam Bartlett on social media and was criticised by journalists for refusing to answer his questions about the undeclared travel and gifts while the matter was before the State Administrative Tribunal.[10][11]

Further investigation and suspension

In May 2017 Western Australia's State Administrative Tribunal ruled that Scaffidi had committed 45 "serious breaches" of local government laws by failing to disclose gifts and overseas travel. The tribunal had the power to disqualify her from office for up to five years. In the previous month Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan called on Scaffidi to step aside and stated that he would look at the means to sack the lord mayor if she did not resign. He also called on the City of Perth councillors to move a motion of no confidence in the lord mayor.[12][13] On 8 September, Scaffidi agreed to step aside pending a court appeal into the ruling.[14]

In early December 2017, the Court of Appeal set aside the Tribunal's orders, and Scaffidi announced that she would return to her statutory duties on 8 January 2018.[15]

On 2 March 2018, the Minister for Local Government, David Templeman, indefinitely suspended the entire City of Perth council, including Scaffidi, while a government panel investigates its operation and conduct. The move came after years of infighting between factions on council. The panel will make a recommendation as to whether the council should be permanently sacked. A government-appointed commission will oversee the city's operations while the investigation is underway.[16] In October 2019, Scaffidi's term as Lord Mayor expired and the office was declared vacant until new elections were scheduled in October 2020.[17]

References

1. Hamlyn, Charlotte (6 April 2017). "Perth City councillors, including Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, censured over no-confidence vote". ABCNews. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
2. Adshead, Gary (13 August 2009). "Scaffidi family feud sparks forgery claim". The West Australian. Perth, WA. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
3. Laurie, Victoria (26 January 2008). "Getting over the growing pains". The Australian. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
4. "The City of Perth saga descends into farce, but the final act is yet to come". ABC News. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
5. "Leadership learnings from the Lord Mayor, Lisa-M. Scaffidi". CEDA. Committee for Economic Development of Australia. 29 April 2015.
6. King, Madeleine (2 May 2014). "Leading WA women join Perth USAsia Centre Board". University News. Crawley, WA: The University of Western Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
7. Wahlquist, Calla (5 October 2015). "Corruption watchdog says Perth's lord mayor 'failed in duties' over Olympics trip". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
8. Foster, Brendan (15 March 2016). "Who is keeping Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi accountable?". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
9. Titelius, Regina (19 March 2017). "State to probe Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, City of Perth council". The Sunday Times. Perth, WA. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
10. Foster, Brendan (15 March 2016). "Who is keeping Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi accountable?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
11. Foster, Brendan (15 March 2016). "Perth Lord Mayor loses cool on Facebook over more alleged undeclared travel". WA Today. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
12. Menagh, Joanna; Kagi, Jacob (9 May 2017). "Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi found by SAT to have breached local government laws". ABC News. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
13. Clarke, Tim (9 May 2017). "Lisa Scaffidi's future in doubt after guilty finding". The West Australian. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
14. "Besieged Perth lord mayor steps aside". The Australian. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
15. "Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi announces return to office". ABC News. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
16. "Years of scandal, infighting culminate in Perth City Council suspension". ABC News. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
17. "The 2020 Election". City of Perth. Retrieved 18 September 2020.

Further reading

• West Weekend Magazine (West Australian newspaper), 27 October 2007. pp. 8–10
• Benda, Danielle (16 June 2007). "City Slicker". The Sunday Times. Perth, WA. Retrieved 7 April 2017.