Members of the public can submit questions for Public Question Time using the online form at the bottom of this page. Once the form is received, the Governance Team will be in contact to discuss the process. Questions may be heard at the commencement of an Ordinary Council Meeting (or Special Council Meeting only on items on the Agenda) at the appropriate item titled ‘Public Question Time'.
Public Question Time is available for asking questions, not for making statements or long preamble/post script. A short preamble for contextual understanding is acceptable.
Any person who completes and submits a ‘Public Question Time Submission’ form, with at least 24 hours’ notice, may be received at the meeting.
Complex questions requiring research shall be submitted seven working days prior to the meeting in order to allow the City sufficient time to prepare a response.
Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions to the Administration for response as correspondence. This can be done using the online form below, or by email to governance@southperth.wa.gov.au or by post to the City of South Perth, Cnr Sandgate and South Tce, South Perth WA 6151.
Public Question Time is declared closed following the expiration of the allocated 15 minute time period, or earlier if there are no further questions. The Presiding Member may call a motion to extend Public Question Time for no longer than 15 minutes at the end of the expired 15 minutes.
The Presiding Member may, at his/her discretion:
- Accept or reject the question and his/her decision is final
- Make a determination where there is concern about a question being offensive, defamatory or the like, in which case, it will not be published
- Nominate a Member of the Council and/or an Officer to answer the question
- Treat questions as correspondence
- Take a question on notice, in which case the response will be provided in the Minutes of the next Ordinary Council meeting.
No debate or discussion will be permitted on any question or answer.
A summary of all questions (except those rejected) and the responses will be recorded in the Minutes.
Members of the public may address Council on items for which they have an interest at an Agenda Briefing or a Special Council Meeting only on items on the Agenda.
Any person or group who completes and submits a ‘Request for a Deputation to Address Council’ form with at least 24 hours’ notice may be received as a Deputation unless the Presiding Member decides otherwise.
- A deputation is not to exceed five (5) persons, only two (2) of whom may address the meeting (spokesperson), although others may respond to specific questions from Members;
- A deputation is not to address Council for a period exceeding 10 minutes without the agreement of the meeting; and
- Additional members of the Deputation may be allowed to speak with the leave of the Presiding Member.
Members of the public may address the Council at an Agenda Briefing Meeting or a Special Council Meeting on items on the agenda by means of a Request for a Deputation to Address Council.
Public Question Time is available for members of the public to ask questions at the beginning of an Ordinary Council Meeting, or at a Special Council Meeting when questions relate to items on the agenda.