SHIRE CELEBRATES 2025 ON TOPLESS NIGHT
GINGIN shire is under fire for holding a ratepayer-funded celebration on skimpies night at a hotel run by a family member of a sitting councillor.
The pre-booked end-of-year bash was held on December 16 at Gingin Hotel and attended by CEO Scott Wildgoose (currently on suspension) and elected members except Cr Jason Weeks.
Only two councillors (Lincoln Stewart and David Wilkie), unaware they were invited to the topless bar service, refused to accept free drinks they said were paid for by the CEO before leaving the event held after the last council meeting in 2025.
Ratepayers who contacted StreetWise today said at the next council meeting on April 16 they will ask how much the event cost, whether the CEO and president Linda Balcombe were aware it was topless night at the hotel and why this was not disclosed in advance to all councillors, whose partners also were invited. StreetWise understands the CEO paid for the night out.
A complaint to the department of local government has fallen on deaf ears despite Premier Roger Cook having recently described as unacceptable the use of ratepayer funds for “strippers and booze”.
One of the owners of Gingin Hotel is related to Cr Craig Hyne who attended the event in which Cr Balcombe invited staff and elected members to, “an evening of celebration and reflection”.
The month before the reflective bash, Joondalup councillor Nige Jones resigned after he ‘accidentally’ entered a strip club in Adelaide then submitted an expense claim for alcohol he bought on the ratepayer-funded trip. A censure notice published by the City stated Cr Jones’ actions, “did not meet the standards of conduct expected of a council member”, and was ordered to complete a course in ethical decision making.
StreetWise was told the Jones affair was the butt of jokes at the shire after he fessed up to drinking at the Crazy Horse gentlemen’s club in August last year. StreetWise also understands it is not the first time the shire has hosted official events with council stakeholders and organisations on skimpies night every Tuesday.
Premier Cook said after Jones’ lapse of judgement that it was completely unacceptable, “using ratepayer’s funds for strippers and booze. I don’t know how or in what world someone would think that’s acceptable”.
Gingin shire will be asked whether the CEO and president consider it consistent with principles of good governance and proper use of ratepayer funds to host an official end-of-year function involving topless bar maids. And, did the shire consider how this event may be perceived by ratepayers, including whether it undermined public confidence in local governance or create discomfort for elected members or their partners and staff who were not informed beforehand?
“There is no way I would have gone had I known,” Cr Wilkie told StreetWise. “I was shocked when I realised it was topless night. I’ve been to the hotel before, but not on skimpies night. The shire could have held it at Lancelin or Seabird, so why there?”
StreetWise has contacted the shire for comment.
