3 months ago
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A councillor in a major local government in Perth’s north will be made to complete an “ethical decision-making course” after he attempted to bill ratepayers for drinks at an iconic Australian strip club while on a council-funded trip to Adelaide.
City of Joondalup councillor Nige Jones had travelled to Adelaide for a conference in August when he stopped by Hindley Street’s Crazy Horse Revue for a nightcap.
City of Joondalup councillor Nige Jones, inset, attempted to bill ratepayers for a drink at a strip club while on a city-funded trip to Adelaide.Credit: Facebook/Google Maps
The city’s register of behavioural breach complaints said Jones was on city-funded travel to the Australasian Coasts and Ports Conference and went to the strip club after he finished for the day.
The city said he tried to claim reimbursement for a drink he bought at the popular strip club, but a complaint was raised about the expenditure.
Jones was asked to write a reflection about his actions, and, in a statement released to media on Tuesday, said he prepared a verbal statement for the council in October.
“I clearly explained how the event occurred to explain my genuine mistake,” he said.
Jones claimed he had finished dinner at an Adelaide restaurant and had a brief sleep at his hotel when he decided to go to a bar.
“I had restless sleep so decided to go out and have an alcoholic drink to help me relax,” he said.
“I walked two minutes to the nearest bar – entered with no cover charge – and ordered a beer in a bar at 11.08pm named The Crazy Horse.”
The Crazy Horse Revue in Adelaide has been described as one of South Australia’s most well-known strip clubs, and hosts the national competition Miss Nude Australia.
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The competition was held at the revue just one week after the conference Jones attended.
Jones said he only “came to his senses” when a dancer came out onto the bar floor in a bikini.
“[I] drank my beer as quickly as I could and left the bar,” he said.
“May I add I am not familiar with Adelaide CBD.”
Jones said he walked to another bar for a drink instead, and said the timings he provided to the City of Joondalup indicated he was being truthful when he said he promptly left the strip club when he realised what it was.
“Given I never felt I intentionally seeked [sic] a strip bar or stayed to take in the dances I submitted all my refreshment receipts from the trip for reimbursement,” Jones said in his statement.
“Obviously it is wrong for a Councillor to be in such a venue.
“I wasn’t reimbursed by City of Joondalup so I don’t have to pay anything back.”
The city has ordered Jones to take an ethical decision-making course following his actions and said he needed to complete a reflective action plan.
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