Chief executive of the Shire of Dundas, Peter Fitchat, is at the centre of the storm. These days, outgoing Labor MP Kyle McGinn has levelled some pretty explosive accusations in his direction. Fitchat has been in his role since 2018. Prior to taking up his position with the Shire of Dundas in the remote Western Australian gold-mining town of Norseman, he spent years in local government in Queensland and Tasmania.
In his valedictory speech, McGinn courageously employed parliamentary privilege to air out his concerns. He noted, in particular, the disturbing action of many local government chief executives, including Fitchat. He described Fitchat as “yet another bully in a position of power.” Second, this vague and sweeping statement begs many questions, particularly regarding the dynamics between elected members of Congress and these unelected leaders of local governments.
Allegations and Responses
In his speech, McGinn expressed serious concerns regarding the “aggression” and “standover tactics” allegedly employed by local government CEOs in Western Australia. Chief executive Craig Hodge resigned from his post last year after Mr Henshaw made similar allegations against Mr Hodge’s predecessor, John Walker.
McGinn described an encounter with Walker as “probably the closest I got to a physical altercation in my eight years.” That’s the wake-up call, he stressed, that local government chief executives, such as Fitchat and Walker, deserve. Faceless, unelected bureaucrats. They aren’t elected officials; they work at the pleasure of elected city council members.
“Local government CEOs like Peter and John ought to be reminded they are not elected officials.” – Kyle McGinn
In response to McGinn’s comments, Fitchat erupted in vigorous support of his own leadership style. He made clear that his commitment to regionalism advocacy is about raising up marginalized communities that are frequently ignored, not flexing muscle. While McGinn’s comments created quite a stir, he responded with humor. He later responded that he had had “a good laugh” at being compared to a less desirable version of John Walker.
“My passion for regional advocacy is not aggression — it’s simply a reflection of the urgency and commitment required when advocating for often overlooked communities.” – Peter Fitchat
The Role of Local Government
Fitchat also recognized the benefit of being held accountable by elected officials. He challenged this view, saying that local government CEOs operate “at the direction of elected members”. Their main job is to help councils do their job, serving communities in the ways they want and need.
McGinn’s rebuke goes further than pointing the finger at personal conduct. He expressed regional concerns about the lack of professionalism and accountability in local governments across regional WA. He noted that some of these unelected CEOs and boards employ standover techniques. This behavior forces their individual agendas, violates the will of the people and circumvents democracy itself.
“In some cases unelected CEOs and directors will use standover tactics to force elected members to comply with their own personal agendas.” – Kyle McGinn
Looking Ahead
McGinn has announced that he will not run again for his seat in Parliament where he has served since 2017. He wants people to understand how important accountability in local government is. Fitchat is looking to deepen its outreach to local communities. Along with prioritizing a project’s nonprofit-connection potential, it favors collaboration between elected representatives.
Fitchat ended his remarks regarding McGinn on a lighter note, stating, “I always knew I was a unique model, just perhaps with a lot more accessories and no free shipping,” illustrating his ability to maintain a sense of humor amidst criticism.
