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Planning minister intervenes in Perth women’s safe night space clash
By Hamish Hastie and Jesinta Burton
Planning Minister John Carey has made the extraordinary move to intervene in a dispute between the City of Perth and Ruah regarding its safe night space for women.
The community service provider had got planning approval to operate the space at its existing James Street facility in Northbridge.
But the City of Perth placed a condition stipulating the facility be operated to the city’s satisfaction, which its chief executive Debra Zanella said was heavy-handed, created uncertainty and posed a risk to its success.
More than 70 people gathered outside Council House in November to voice their support for the retention of the night space.Credit: Jesinta Burton.
Ruah was fighting these conditions in the State Administrative Tribunal.
Under powers contained in the Planning and Development Act 2005 the planning minister of the day can call in such SAT disputes for their own determination.
Former Planning Minister Rita Saffioti used this power after Ruah fought a City of Perth rejection of a community centre at the James Street facility in 2022.
On Friday, Carey issued a directions notice to the SAT president to refer Ruah’s application for ministerial determination.
While Carey made the decision to intervene, he transferred authority for the final decision to Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson as there could be a perceived conflict of interest because of his public commentary on the issue.
“I have been advised that I do not, in these circumstances, have a conflict of interest in this matter,” he said.
“However, I also consider that there is a minor risk of a perception of conflict of interest and have asked that authority to consider and determine this review application be transferred to Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.”
Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas told WAtoday the matter seemed “unduly complicated” and questioned the state government’s motives.
“The Minister has called in a matter which was already going through the State Administrative Appeals process, and then handed the decision-making authority to a Minister who does not handle the planning portfolio. Why?” he said.
“This state government seems to want everyone to follow the umpire’s decision, except when they are not the umpire and do not like the decision.
“A reminder, the City of Perth council voted unanimously in favour of the Safe Night Space reopening on James Street two weeks ago. All of this is just causing further delay and adding unnecessary angst. And you really do have to ask why?”
Ruah dragging the city to the tribunal last week was the latest twist in the ongoing saga over the women’s shelter, which has been at the centre of a five-month-long slanging match between the city and the state.
The city had been bankrolling a trial of the safe night space for 2½ years, with Ruah running it from the Rod Evans Centre in East Perth.
But in February, the city announced the trial would cease, and the centre would return to being a community space amid complaints from surrounding residents.
The state government offered to hand over more than $3 million for the city to keep its doors open, but Zempilas — who has repeatedly claimed former premier Mark McGowan rejected his funding request one year prior — said the pledge was too little too late.
The decision angered domestic violence and homelessness advocacy groups, sparking a petition coordinated by the operators to retain the service, and a rally outside Council House.
One week after the approval of operations recommencing at the James Street premises, Zempilas came under fire from Women’s Interests Minister Sue Ellery for failing to declare that he owned a property within metres of the new site, which she said didn’t pass the pub test.
Zempilas had declared an impartiality interest when Ruah’s application to operate in East Perth came to council in 2022.
But the lord mayor said he had raised the matter with the city’s governance team and was told a declaration was not necessary for the meeting in February.
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