Arabic version: مدينة بيرث تقيل الرئيسة التنفيذية ميشيل رينولدز

According to ABC News, the City of Perth has terminated chief executive officer Michelle Reynolds’ appointment after a special council meeting. Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said the decision was effective immediately and followed an independent investigation into her tenure. He said the confidential employment matter would not be detailed publicly, but the investigation’s findings were “sufficiently serious” to warrant her dismissal.

Ms Reynolds had been suspended since May, when the four-month investigation began. In a statement, she said she was shocked by the decision and would appeal. She described the investigation as a “witch hunt”, said the allegations were individually trivial, and alleged she had been scapegoated by an otherwise toxic council. Ms Reynolds said she intended to speak about her experiences and challenging relationships with certain council members now that she was no longer bound by confidentiality.

The dismissal came a week after Local Government Inspector Tony Brown announced a three-month inquiry into the council. He cited fractured working relationships and ongoing governance issues at the city. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said the inspector would review the process that led to Ms Reynolds being sacked as part of that inquiry, adding that she had zero tolerance for dysfunction, poor governance and unsustainable financial management.

The council has faced continuing allegations of dysfunction and poor governance. A January report found the City of Perth workplace was in “crisis”, citing intimidating conduct and hostile communications mostly directed at women, as well as a “conflict spiral” between Ms Reynolds and the Lord Mayor. Bruce Reynolds said interim leadership arrangements would be made while recruitment began for a new CEO. WA Opposition leader Basil Zempilas called the dismissal “outrageous” and said the Lord Mayor should provide a full explanation.