City of Perth councillor travel costs triple to $106k, newly released figures show
Sydney Morning Herald
by Carla HildebrandtFebruary 24, 2026
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The City of Perth councillors' travel expenses have surged dramatically, tripling from $33,880 in 2023/24 to $106,505 in 2024/25, according to recently released figures. This significant increase comes after a policy change in 2024 that allowed councillors to travel in business class alongside the Lord Mayor for both domestic and international trips unless otherwise specified. The total travel expenditure over three financial years reached $163,524, raising questions about accountability and public funds use.
The breakdown of expenses reveals substantial spending by individual councillors. Former Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas topped the list with $45,066 across two financial years, while former councillor Steven Wellard spent $25,430 in 2024/25 alone. Other notable spenders include Councillor Raj Doshi, who accumulated $18,598, mostly in the current year, and sitting councillor Catherine Lezer, who recorded $13,367 in 2024/25.
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/24/2026