Published on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 at 3:17:08 PM
I want to acknowledge the ongoing patience from the Town of Port Hedland’s community as the Council continues to work through a number of issues.
As the Mayor of Port Hedland, I have a range of roles and responsibilities, including providing leadership and guidance to the community. I am passionate about Hedland, and I feel a deep sense of duty and responsibility to harness all the opportunities available to help build a positive future for the Town and the community.
With Western Australian Local Government Ordinary Elections scheduled for Saturday 18 October 2025, my focus is on navigating the Council through until that date, when the community will have their say on the makeup of the next Town of Port Hedland Council.
The Town of Port Hedland has recently received correspondence from the Western Australian Electoral Commission about filling elected member vacancies. It is the role of the WAEC to provide guidance to local government organisations about filling elected member vacancies. I think it is important to outline what that guidance is.
The first letter from the WAEC, dated 12 June 2025, confirms the date of 18 October 2025 as the date when the community can vote to replace the vacancies created by Councillor Arentz and Councillor Turner’s resignations. This date aligns with the scheduled Local Government Ordinary Election.
The second letter from the WAEC, dated 16 June 2025, provides information about filling the vacancy recently created by Councillor Rebello’s resignation. The WAEC indicate the earliest date they could support the Town of Port Hedland and our community with an election to fill this vacancy is 18 October 2025. The WAEC suggest this date would allow the Town to focus effort into the delivery of one single election, maximising voter participation, as well as being cost effective.
It is important to note the Council has already approved for the vacancy created by Councillor Bennett’s resignation to be held over until the Local Government Ordinary Election on 18 October 2025.
If the Town were to run an extraordinary election at a date earlier than 18 October 2025, without the support and oversight of the WAEC, this is likely to come with a significant cost in both money and staff resources, take the Council’s focus away from the important business we need to prioritise before 18 October, and put additional pressure on the community’s voting population. I do not believe this is in the best interests of the Hedland community.
There will be seven vacancies of nine positions, including the role of Mayor, available for the community of Port Hedland to have their say on at the October Local Government Ordinary Election. Councillor Butson and Councillor Blanco’s terms continue.
Turnout by registered voters in Port Hedland in the 2023 Local Government Ordinary Elections was 23.8%, lower than the State average of 31.6%. We need this number to increase, with a higher proportion of our community participating in the voting process and having a say in who they are electing to represent their interests. Participation is critical, as it underpins a well-functioning democratic process.
I believe the Council’s highest priorities through until 18 October 2025 are to finalise the major capital projects plan, including service worker housing and the aquatics facility, and to pass the Annual Budget for FY 25/26. I remain firmly focused on working with my fellow elected members to achieve this, as it will enable the Town’s administration to get on with ensuring sustainable service delivery for the community, and in turn, enable the Town to progress.
I have not made any plans from 18 October 2025. However, I can confirm my continued commitment to doing what I firmly believe is the right thing, right now, to help build a positive future for the Town and the community.
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