FORMER COUNCILLOR DISRUPTS BIZARRE CANDIDATES DEBATE

MAYORAL candidates invited to debate at Notre Dame want Fremantle Network member Rachel Pemberton banned from Tannock Hall to avoid a repeat of her disruptive behaviour at the East Ward candidates debate.
The former councillor and dumpster diver who is supporting Brendan Moore derided Sally McKay over a promise to donate if elected her councillor stipend to local sports clubs, the outburst attracting criticisms of the Wednesday ‘farce’ organised by the Hilton and Samson precinct groups.
Ms McKay told StreetWise today she was unaware elected members were paid until she decided to nominate: “She (Pemberton) yelled out in the middle of my response when I was talking about the minimal requirements for the stipend that I would get. Someone behind her told her to be quiet and to be respectful.
“Meanwhile, I’m made to look by the moderator (Gabby Nui) that I am trying to buy votes. She started a debate with me when she didn’t like my answers.”
Mayoral candidate Mark Woodcock said all the candidates spoke well, “but two were clearly more focused on activism than actual local ward issues”.
Mr Woodcock described Pemberton’s interruption in which she accused Ms McKay of knowing nothing about ‘hard work’ as, “a shocking display of aggression, completely out of step with the tone of the evening”.
He said Sally put in thousands of unpaid hours volunteering and fundraising for youth cricket across Perth, “real grassroots work, with no salary and plenty of out-of-pocket costs I’m sure. I’d say she knows a thing or two about actual hard work and certainly more than some others”.
Mr Woodcock who is also running in North Ward said the moderator spent as much time debating candidates, clearly unimpressed by answers that did not match her views nor did she shut down Pemberton when Ms McKay was interrupted.
“Community questions?” Mr Woodcock posted. “Filtered through an online platform, pre-screened, then editorialised by the moderator. So much for real engagement. It felt more like a Fremantle Network production than a genuine democratic forum.”
Fellow mayoral candidate Marija Vujcic attended the Q&A only to be reminded of similar interruptions by Pemberton at the 2021 mayoral debate moderated by Fremantle Shipping News, co-organisers of the October 6 debate at Notre Dame with The Fremantle Society and Fremantle Network. Ms Vujcic said in both cases, the moderators refused to shut down Pemberton who at the 2021 debate was offered a mintie as punishment for having interrupted her.
She said the university must ensure a fair and democratic debate and not repeat previous mayoral debates including the highly criticised state candidates election debate in February.
StreetWise contacted Notre Dame and asked whether it was concerned over Fremantle Network’s involvement and Pemberton’s behaviour in the lead up to the debate, particularly given her well-known dislike of Ms Vujcic. If Pemberton took umbrage to Sally McKay’s promise to donate her councillor’s stipend, imagine the fireworks over Ms Vujcic having promised to forego her entire mayoral stipend if elected.
StreetWise also asked Notre Dame whether it was concerned over the impasse between Fremantle Society president John Dowson and mayoral candidate Hannah Fitzhardinge, who apologised online after she accused Mr Dowson of being racist for criticising the City’s bicentenary plans.
“She’s trying to cancel us again,” Mr Dowson told StreetWise. “She won’t come if we had anything to do with it.”
He said Notre Dame confirmed the Society was still part of the group organising the debate, “so the mayor can make of that what she wants. We’re not going anywhere. Notre Dame is not kicking us out”.
The university also refused to say whether the event will be live streamed or recorded for people who cannot attend. Had the East Ward debate been televised, viewers would have heard questions such as: “Ben Lawver has been an active local councillor responding to community concerns and pro actively keeping people informed. What would you do to ensure this high standard is continued?”
Seriously, this was a question when the four candidates were grilled mostly by the moderator than a subdued audience required to ask questions using online apps.
“You have a hard act to follow in Ben Lawver, what will your priorities be if you are elected?” That was the second question referring to Ben, who also is running for mayor but not east ward.
Another question was aimed at Ms McKay: “Why publicise donating your stipend if elected? It feels like a bribe for votes. If I were you & had the means to serve as an elected member & reinvest the money back to the ward I would have done so out of kindness.”
If I were you?
The moderator also asked Nick Everett and Pip Slaughter: “What tangible role do you see local government playing in issues like AUKUS, Gaza?”

Will the real AI stand up

East Ward candidate Brendan Moore was asked at the debate: “Are you still employed at the City of Fremantle, or are you on leave without pay? Is your position backfilled during the election period or is the CoF short staffed?”
StreetWise asked Moore via Messenger to confirm whether he was still employed at the City as Senior Aboriginal Engagement Officer: “Hi mate. I’m on leave without pay so if I’m elected I must resign …”
StreetWise: “But you’re still actually employed by CoF if you’re on leave.”
Brendan: “Not getting paid, not able to speak with staff, not able to converse on matters … so it’s that I’m actually suffering financially already given I’m not getting paid, unlike if I had another job.”
Asked whether the Act was clear on nominations, he said: “Hi Carmelo, which part are you worried about?”
StreetWise: “A person cannot nominate if they ‘are a member of the council or another local government’.
Brendan? “Brendan has taken a leave of absence from his CoF position in order to run for council. Should he be elected he will be stepping down permanently … please don’t say, ‘I’m a member of the council or another local government’, when I’m not. Thanks Brendan.”
Then: “Not sure why you are messaging me about it as I am just a regular community member who is helping with his campaign. But if Brendan is saying he is now a member of a local government, I would suggest that being employed by the city and being on council are two different things. I would probably message Rachel Pemberton and ask, she is also helping on his campaign and was previously a councillor so I am sure that her vast knowledge of local government acts would mean that she would not run an ineligible candidate for a council position.”
StreetWise: “So who have I been exchanging messages with? Can you please forward these to Brendan as they were intended for him or send me his email address and/or mobile phone number before I go looking for them. Kind regards.”
Brendan: “It doesn’t say employees can’t nominate, but they must take leave from employment which I have done. The understanding of that point is that you cannot nominate if you are an elected member of the council of another local government.”
StreetWise: “Is this Brendan speaking now?”
Brendan: “I’m Brendan that was just AI.”
StreetWise has asked WAEC returning officer for the Fremantle local government elections Andrew Cousins (a real person) to confirm it.