Mushrooms or chumps?

In August 2015 our former shire CEO was given a spent conviction, the legal equivalent of a slap on the wrist. James Trail had been a naughty boy and accepted a few treats from supplier in return for signing contracts that had not been approved by our elected councillors.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

“I was once told that Brian Burke boasted that if the Liberals were to ever gain power, it would take them 20 years to root out the people that he had placed in the public service.”

Hon Rob Johnson, WA Legislative Assembly, 27^th February 2007

A Systems Approach

Now we know that the shire had a systems failure that allowed James Trail to spend $170,000 without authorisation. We know Gary Evershed did not notice the $170,000 back in 2008 when he was paid to undertake his well publicised due diligence.

The Most Precious Flower - Lest We Forget

As the value of our local economy is being removed by a group of wealthy cronies the grassroots working citizens are paying more for a local government that our Premier, Colin Barnett, believes to be corrupt. We are sinking fast towards a Greek tragedy, where the public sector costs more than the private individuals can comfortably pay.

Spent Rates, Spent Conviction

James Trail had moved on before he faced the magistrates to answer the charges brought against him as a result of his behaviour when he was CEO of Augusta-Margaret River and Kalamunda . After Kalamunda dismissed him he created JT Professional Services and shifted from being directly involved in local government, as a CEO, to being a local government consultant.