Basil Zempilas calls on John Carey to release ‘secret report’ on preferred site for women’s homeless shelter

Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas has called for the public release of a “secret report” that has ruled out his preferred location for an overnight shelter for homeless women. It is the latest escalation in a long-running tit-for-tat between Mr Zempilas and the Cook Government following the closure of the former site of the Safe Night Space program in early December, which has left dozens of vulnerable women on the street. Since then, two competing proposals have emerged. The first, backed by Mr Zempilas, would see the service reopen at the Tranby Engagement Hub on Aberdeen Street, which is operated by UnitingWA. Homelessness Minister John Carey’s preference is for Ruah – which previously ran Safe Night Space out of the Rod Evans Centre in East Perth – to be given permission to instead host the shelter at its existing James Street facility. The City of Perth is currently considering applications from both proponents but Mr Carey on Sunday revealed the Office of Homelessness had advised him the Aberdeen Street site “is not appropriate for a safe night space for women”. Because of that, Mr Carey said $3.1 million promised by the State Government to continue the service would not be made available to UnitingWA. The funding remains on the table for Ruah, should it win City of Perth approval for its James Street concept. Mr Zempilas on Monday slammed the latest development, accusing Mr Carey of using the shelter as a political football. “Until we see the secret report that the minister hasn’t provided, on what basis have they made this decision?” The Perth Mayor said. “It’s not clear to me and it’s not clear to anybody who I’ve spoken to. “And I ask the minister, let’s see the report. If there’s nothing to hide, if you’re not using this issue to politicise this current situation, then let’s see the report.” Mr Carey has been contacted for comment. Mr Zempilas, an employee of Seven West Media, is widely expected to nominate for Liberal preselection in the blue-ribbon seat of Churchlands. He has engaged in a heated back-and-forth with the Cook Government over the Safe Night Space program since the East Perth site was closed in response to safety concerns from nearby residents in December. That decision was made by Perth council last February and, according to Mr Zempilas, only after the WA Government knocked back a request to take over funding the service. “It was only at the 11th hour that (the) State Government decided to come in (and offer $3.1 million to keep the service at the Rod Evans Centre),” Mr Zempilas said. “At that stage we had already committed to our community that the Safe Night Space at the Rod Evans Centre would cease.” Mr Zempilas added the James Street option now being backed by Mr Carey was “in the middle of Northbridge” as opposed to on the outskirts of the popular entertainment precinct. The site was the subject of controversy in 2022 when Perth council overruled the advice of planning officers to knock back Ruah’s original proposal to establish a homelessness drop-in centre. However, that decision was subsequently overturned by then Planning Minister Rita Saffioti, paving the way for the relocation from nearby Shenton Street. Mr Carey is now Planning Minister and may repeat the dose if the City of Perth rejects the latest Ruah proposal. Mr Zempilas said both the Ruah and UnitingWA concepts were with planning officers for adjudication – but did not rule out councillors intervening to make the decision themselves. “Might council decide to call the matter up? Yes, indeed they might. But I couldn’t pre-empt that decision or conversation,” he said. A City of Perth decision on the proposals is expected within a month.