Freo councillor accuses colleagues of secret Markets meetings

by Sally Hyslop

April 29, 2008

A FREMANTLE councillor has accused fellow councillors of improper dealings regarding the awarding of a lease for the Fremantle Markets.

The current lessors, the Murdoch family, have been awarded a new lease. However, long-term councillor Les Lauder said there were serious issues related to the council’s dealings over the lease.

Mr Tagliaferri did not respond to eMU News’s requests for a comment.

Cr Lauder said the Murdochs continually pressed him to meet with them in closed door meetings. He says he refused these meetings, but alleges some other councillors – including mayor Peter Tagliaferri - recently contravened the principle of open government by attending the meetings.

Neither Mr Tagliaferri, nor markets spokesman Jamie Murdoch, returned eMU News’s phone calls.

“I think the deal that we signed off on is a really bad one,” Cr Lauder said, “but we weren’t given a choice... we weren’t given any other options.”

A special meeting of electors will be held on April 29, in response to a 153-signature petition that echoes Cr Lauder’s concerns.