We
reported back in October, that the Western Australian State
Government is to make major reforms to the number of local
governments in metropolitan Perth. The reforms were subject to a
legal challenge in the Supreme Court, which was heard on 25
November 2014.
The applicants, being the City of Subiaco, City of South Perth
and the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale (Councils)
challenged the process by which the Minister and the Local
Government Advisory Board sought to implement the amalgamations.
The Councils also sought an injunction, which would have prevented
the State Government from continuing with its reforms.
The application was dismissed by His Honour Chief Justice Wayne
Martin. His Honour found no evidence that the reform process,
undertaken by the Minister for Local Government and the Local
Government Advisory Board (LGAB), was conducted
improperly.
