Business class travel for Perth council members immediately suspended as city tries to avoid serious debt

City of Perth council members will no longer be flying business class on interstate and international trips to help reduce an “unanticipated” city debt. Cr Catherine Lezer had called for travel to be suspended immediately for six months or until the city’s local government monitor, former Kwinana mayor Carol Adams, had finished her work with the city. The appointment of a monitor by the Local Government Inspector will cost the city $35,000 and implementing the 18 recommendations from a recent psychosocial risk assessment will cost about $250,000. City officers said the total travel suspension would save ratepayers about $110,000. However, at the city’s council meeting on Tuesday night Cr Lezer’s proposal was amended to council members flying economy instead of business class. Cr Lezer said leadership meant putting constituents above travel itineraries. “This is a simple immediate step ... halt all city funded overseas and interstate travel,” she said. Cr Lezer said the city had lost around 1000 parking bays, representing about $2.46 million in revenue, and had a potential $910,000 sponsorship deficit and about $3.7 million in unbudgeted costs this financial year. “Budget issues don’t happen all at once,” she said. “They happen when councils ignore the cumulative impact of small spending decisions. It’s time to tighten our belts.” Cr Raj Doshi tried allowing travel only when the CEO deemed it “critical to the city’s interest”, but it was not supported. A second proposal from Cr Viktor Ko that all elected members fly economy class instead of business, rather than suspending travel altogether, was supported 5-4. Cr Ko said the change would preserve representation while reducing costs. “I’m not saying no to international and domestic travel. I’m saying to travel as economy,” he said. “Have you ever travelled overseas? You can expect to pay five times or more compared to the economy tickets.” Deputy Lord Mayor David Goncalves said it was “much easier just to stay home”. He said council members were capable of weighing costs carefully and making sensible decisions, rather than applying a rigid rule. “I think we need that nuance and that flexibility to really provide value or being able to gain value for the city,” he said. Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds spoke against suspending travel entirely. He argued interstate and international engagement was essential to “build partnerships” and “secure funding”. “If we don’t show up, we don’t get represented,” he said. However, supporters maintained that public confidence must come first. “The argument for business-as-usual travel just doesn’t hold water when the budget’s under this much pressure,” Cr Lezer said. “Our effectiveness isn’t measured in air miles. “With about $3.7 million in unbudgeted costs already hitting the books, we have to start cutting somewhere. “If we don’t make these choices now, the only alternative is to ask ratepayers for more “This won’t be the last cost-saving measure council needs to consider, but it should be the first.” Elected members may continue travelling on behalf of the city, but only in economy class until the October 2027 ordinary elections. A table released before the council meeting revealed travel spending by councillors had more than tripled in the previous financial year, jumping from $33,880 in 2023-24 to $106,505 in 2024-25. In 2024, the council voted to allow elected members to travel business class for work matters.