City executives' fines waived

Fines issued to City of Bunbury CEO Andrew Brien for driving in a nature reserve and chief financial officer Wayne Wright for parking in an ACROD bay have been dropped by the council.

The South Western Times understands the actions of the council’s executive officers, to ask rangers to withdraw the fines, prompted a complaint to the Corruption and Crime Commission.

The CCC referred the issue back to the council and at Tuesday night’s meeting the council ruled not to act on the fines.

Mr Brien was caught driving in a conservation reserve near Dalyellup while Mr Wright was fined for parking in an ACROD bay outside the council building on a Saturday.

The fines – of $250 and $120 respectively – were issued last year.

Mayor David Smith said the council would advise the CCC of its decision and form a policy to deal with the issue in the future.

He said the council agreed to drop Mr Brien’s fine because the nature reserve was not adequately signed and to withdraw Mr Wright’s fine because the ACROD bay was rarely used.

“In broad terms, the majority of councillors saw nothing wrong with the executives requesting staff to withdraw the fines and don’t accept there is anything wrong with that,” he said.

Mr Brien said he was teaching his son to drive in bush on the edge of Dalyellup when he was fined.

“The whole issue with the withdrawl of infringements is anyone can have one withdrawn, councillors have had them withdrawn in the past and not copped scrutiny,” he said.

“If anyone else applied for a withdrawl of a parking infringement it wouldn’t be made public.”

He said the ACROD bay had been frequently used as a loading bay and had since been removed.

The Mayor said he had voted against the fines being withdrawn.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for the boss and an executive to ask employees of council to remit the penalities,” he said.

“Not only do we have to do the right thing but we have to be seen doing the right thing.”

Mr Brien said he had sought advice from the CCC and the Department of Local Government about “mischievous” letters sent to councillors about the issue.

The letters were falsely signed as being written by councillors.

The council decided any future requests from councillors or council staff to withdraw or alter an infringement would be referred to the council for a ruling.