Inquiries into mayor's Games trip
The Department of Local Government has confirmed it is making inquiries into Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi's acceptance of BHP Billiton's corporate hospitality at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
A spokesman for Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said his department had not received a complaint about Ms Scaffidi.
The spokesman said the department, which administered council regulations, would make further inquiries and the minister would wait for its advice.
On Friday, Ms Scaffidi argued she could accept the hospitality because in 2008 "it was not likely and it hasn't been likely that I would need to be involved in operational decisions to do with BHP's operations in WA".
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Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations ban prohibited gifts - that is gifts worth more than $300 - from someone who wants or reasonably might in future want council authorisation for something.
In 2010, Ms Scaffidi rejected tickets to see the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at Perth Concert Hall because they were worth more than $300.
But the City of Perth, in arguing this year for the limit to be raised to between $500 and $1000, claimed gifts over the threshold could be accepted as long as the donors "have absolutely no connection with the City".
City of Perth council minutes show Ms Scaffidi participated in council decisions affecting BHP Billiton as early as January 2007.
April 2008 council minutes show Ms Scaffidi declared an impartiality interest when council gave BHP $22,100 to broadcast the Olympics in Forrest Place.
Ms Scaffidi has not been available to answer questions over whether the grant predated BHP's invitation to the August Games, estimated to be worth $15,000 to $20,000.
Ms Scaffidi was on the council in January 2007 when it established a working group, including BHP, to market Perth internationally as "a resource city".
