Election fight looms over business class flights as Perth councillors’ $20k trips revealed

2 hours ago 1

City of Perth councillors have individually billed ratepayers up to $20,000 for international trips, including business class flights and luxury hotels, according to newly released freedom of information documents.

The disclosures come as the race for council heats up, with many candidates pledging to do away with a policy that defaults to business class bookings for councillors’ travel.

City of Perth councillors spent $60,000 in 24/25 on accommodation and flights.

In March 2024, Bruce Reynolds, the current acting lord mayor who is running for the top job at next month’s election, attended the CERAWeek energy conference and the World Energy Cities Partnership meeting in Houston, Texas, while serving as a councillor.

The WECP is a global network of “energy cities” that share knowledge and promote investment opportunities, with Perth a member since 1999.

FOI records show Reynolds’ Qatar Airways business class flights cost more than $15,000 and his six-night stay at the Marriott Marquis came to $5243.

The total bill exceeded $20,000, although Reynolds said he personally paid for his return flight. He travelled with then-lord mayor Basil Zempilas and chief executive Michelle Reynolds.

Councillor Steven Wellard (second from right) speaking at CERAWeek in Texas, Houston in 2025.

Councillor Steven Wellard, who is running for re-election, was selected to attend the same events this year in Reynolds’ place, billing almost $24,500 for Singapore Airlines business class flights and for accommodation. He attended with the city’s general manager of infrastructure and operations, Allan Mason.

Councillor Catherine Lezer also represented Perth at a WECP meeting in Norway in late 2023, costing about $14,000 in flights and accommodation, after Zempilas withdrew.

However, Lezer is also running for mayor in October and has since pledged to ban business class travel if elected and to withdraw Perth from the WECP after the city hosts its 2026 AGM.

Zempilas ($12,144, airfares and accommodation), travelled business class to Japan last year, along with councillor and mayor hopeful Clyde Bevan ($11,478) and councillor Liam Gobbert, who is running for re-election ($13,785).

Houston’s CERAWeek in March, 2024, with Bruce Reynolds (fourth from right), CEO Michelle Reynolds (first right), and then-mayor Basil Zempilas (fourth from left).

Two weeks ago, councillor Raj Doshi attended the WACP meeting in Canada travelling on business class flights, along with a City of Perth staff member.

Doshi said the five-day trip was about putting Perth “on the map” in global energy discussions.

“It was a short but intense trip – three flights, 36 hours each way. These connections can’t be made on Zoom,” she said.

It is understood the 2026 AGM bid was initiated earlier this year by Wellard, where he opened discussions about Perth hosting and got preliminary approval. Councillor Doshi then formally pitched the city’s case in Canada and secured the agreement.

“It’s not a junket – it’s about putting Perth on a level playing field.”

Acting Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds

The disclosures have exposed a divide ahead of the October 18 local government elections.

Like Lezer, mayoral contenders Shirley Vine and Viktor Ko have vowed to scrap overseas business class entitlements, calling them “unjustifiable” and “out of touch with ratepayers”.

But Reynolds and Bevan have defended the practice. Fellow mayoral contender Chris Patan said mayors should be able to travel business class.

Reynolds said CERAWeek was an important event to attend for Perth’s energy profile.

“These are high-powered meetings from 6am to 9pm every day,” Reynolds said.

“It’s not a junket – it’s about putting Perth on a level playing field.”

Wellard, seeking re-election as a councillor, also defended his $24,500 trip.

“There were CEOs, global energy leaders and presidents in the room – I was the only Australian government representative there,” Wellard said.

Bevan said their Japan trip was “sold work”.

City of Perth councillor Raj Doshi attends Canada’s WACP conference two weeks ago.

“We had six meetings in one day. It was five solid days of work,” Bevan said.

“If we don’t show up, Perth isn’t in the conversation. These relationships are built face-to-face.”

Gobbert said premium travel was necessary on international delegations.

“It allows you to properly rest and conduct business when you arrive,” he said.

Reynolds’ business class flights to Houston were booked on February 6, 2024 – three weeks before council voted to entitle elected members to business class travel on international trips.

The motion passed 5–4, with Zempilas, Bevan, Gobbert, Lezer and Cr Raj Doshi voting in favour, and councillors Reynolds, Ko, Brent Fleeton and David Goncalves voting against.

The city’s elected member expenses register shows councillors claimed more than $60,000 in travel and accommodation costs in 2024/25.

A City of Perth spokesperson said it was important to attend international events in person.

“Attendance at these important international events reinforces the City of Perth’s position as the resource and energy capital of the Indo-Pacific,” the spokesperson said.

The city pointed to Perth’s long history of international links, with 11 sister city and friendship agreements, including with Houston, Kagoshima, Rhodes, San Diego and Nanjing, saying such exchanges create “opportunities for cultural, educational, trade and knowledge-sharing”.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.