The council of the Pilbara town that is home to the world’s biggest bulk export port has been dissolved, and three commissioners appointed in its place.
West Australian Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley dissolved the Town of Port Hedland council on Tuesday, with the resignation of Mayor Peter Carter last week the tipping point.
Port Hedland is the world’s busiest bulk export port.Credit: Trevor Collens
Carter, whose resignation followed four other councillors who left from October 2024, said he had quit over dysfunction within the council. The move left the council without the five members needed to form a quorum.
Beazley, the daughter of Labor titan Kim Beazley, appointed commissioners Jessica Shaw, Martin Aldridge and Ron Yuryevich to oversee the council’s operations until an election in March next year.
Shaw and Aldridge are former members of state parliament while Yuryevich is a former mayor of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, another council in the resources-rich Goldfields region of WA’s outback.
Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter.
“Individually and collectively, the commissioners have extensive experience in local and state government as well as the private sector, so are well-equipped to take on the decision-making functions of the council to serve the Port Hedland community,” Beazley said.
“The long-term aim is to have a well-functioning, stable and efficient local council to serve the interests of the local community.
“Crucial to that aim is to have high-quality candidates nominate for council when the time comes, and for people to turn out to vote so they have a say on who will represent them and their interests.”
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