Over 800 residents petition Joondalup Council to eliminate ratepayer-funded alcohol in councillors' lounge
More than 894 residents have signed a petition calling for the City of Joondalup to stop providing alcohol in the elected members' lounge, citing concerns about ratepayers subsidizing what they view as a luxury. The council spends approximately $1,000 annually on alcohol and refreshments, though Mayor Daniel Kingston noted that more than half of the 13 councillors do not drink in the lounge. The petition has prompted the council to reconsider the practice, with residents arguing the alcohol serves no official purpose and represents outdated entitlement.
Residents of Joondalup have launched a successful petition drive, gathering 894 signatures in eight days to pressure their local council into eliminating alcohol from the elected members' lounge. The petition specifically targets ratepayer-funded alcohol consumption outside of formal functions and events, with residents arguing that public money should not subsidize what they characterize as a personal luxury. According to council records, approximately $1,000 is spent annually on alcohol and refreshments, with most bottles—except for a bottle of Sherry—remaining unpurchased since 2024. Mayor Daniel Kingston revealed that seven of the 13 elected members do not consume alcohol in the lounge, and most of these councillors avoid the lounge altogether. The council's newly appointed chief executive, Craig Lloyd, noted that his two previous Victorian councils both had policies opposing alcohol on premises, with rare exceptions only for special events. Residents have emphasized that council policy already prohibits alcohol consumption while councillors are undertaking their official roles, suggesting the alcohol serves no legitimate governmental purpose.
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- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
More than 800 locals sign petition to cut off Joondalup councillors’ alcohol
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