Ratepayers Push to Ban Booze from Joondalup Council Lounge
Joondalup councillors are set to deliberate on the contents of their private liquor cabinet, facing mounting pressure from local residents who are decidedly unhappy about their rates contributing to a roughly $1000 annual tab for alcohol and refreshments. The debate centres on whether taxpayer money should fund alcoholic beverages in the elected members’ lounge, a practice many in the community deem outdated and inappropriate.
Community Outcry and a Petition to Match
The sentiment among many Joondalup residents is clear: they don’t want to subsidise alcohol for councillors. Suzanne Apps, a local resident, spearheaded a petition that rapidly garnered over 900 signatures in just eight days, demonstrating the depth of community concern. This significant show of support was achieved with minimal effort, relying solely on social media and without resorting to traditional door-knocking campaigns.
The petition, which closed on Monday, specifically called on the Joondalup Council to “vote to end ratepayer-funded alcohol consumption in the elected members’ lounge outside of formal functions and events.” By its closing date, it had amassed an impressive 894 signatures, a strong indicator of public disapproval.
“The clear message from ratepayers is that they do not want to subsidise alcohol, including the wine, the beer, and the top-shelf spirits in the councillors’ private lounge after meetings and after briefing sessions,” Apps stated. “On the argument around just how much it costs, they don’t want it to continue at any price.”
A Year-Long Debate and Questions of Purpose
Fellow resident Faye Gilbert expressed the community’s disbelief that the issue of self-service alcohol in the councillors’ lounge is still being debated a full year after it was first raised. Gilbert argued that councillors should be able to operate in an “alcohol-free environment.”
She highlighted the council’s own policy, which states that alcohol must not be consumed while undertaking official duties. “If that rule is being followed, then this alcohol serves no official purpose. It is simply for personal enjoyment,” Gilbert asserted. She further criticised the practice as “outdated and inappropriate,” drawing a comparison to state government boards she had worked with.
“I have worked with state government boards responsible for multi-million dollar portfolios, they operate effectively without alcohol, just tea, coffee, juice and water, and they do fine,” Gilbert explained. “They couldn’t justify spending public money on a luxury like alcohol. End this culture of entitlement and focus on the job you are elected to do.”
What’s in the Cabinet?
A review of the alcohol holdings, with stocktakes conducted on April 1 for spirits and April 29 for beer and wine, revealed that the council’s private bar is not stocked with premium spirits. A list of drinks from the May 26 ordinary council meeting minutes indicates that, apart from a bottle of sherry, no alcohol has been purchased since 2024.
The council’s report to the meeting clarified that beer and wine are indeed served to guests at select civic events, such as community appreciation functions and citizenship ceremonies. Any remaining stock from these events is then returned to the bar and can be used at subsequent functions. The report also noted that fortified wines, liqueurs, and some spirits might be utilised in culinary applications, such as in desserts and sauces.
Councillor Stance and External Precedents
Mayor Daniel Kingston addressed the residents’ concerns by revealing that more than half of the 13 elected members do not consume alcohol. He specifically named himself and councillors Adrian Hill, Lewis Hutton, Denise Mercer, Bettina Gould, Christopher May, and Rohan O’Neill as non-drinkers in the elected members’ lounge. Kingston added that the majority of these councillors generally opt not to use the lounge at all.
Councillor Denise Mercer took the opportunity to inquire with the City of Joondalup’s new chief executive, Craig Lloyd, about alcohol policies at his previous workplaces. Lloyd, who previously served as chief executive for two Victorian councils – the City of Whittlesea and the Murrindindi Shire Council – confirmed that both had policies against alcohol on the premises.
“My immediate previous council had a policy of no alcohol on the premises,” Lloyd stated. “There were very rare exceptions to that, which were things like the annual arts awards, and that was for one drink per person. Outside of that, alcohol wasn’t consumed in our venues … there certainly wasn’t alcohol provided to either staff or elected members.”
The Decision Ahead
The Joondalup Council is scheduled to vote on the future of alcohol in the elected members’ lounge at its ordinary council meeting on June 23. Councillors will decide whether to maintain the current policy, which allows for alcohol consumption, or to eliminate it entirely, thereby potentially ending the use of ratepayer funds for such provisions.
