CEO’s response to false and misleading remarks made under parliamentary privilege

On 28 October 2025 Senator Tyron Whitten, One Nation Senator for Western Australia, made inaccurate remarks in parliament to suggest that the Shire of Augusta Margaret River has acted in bad faith in regards to the proposed Scott River Wind Farm. 

Statement from CEO Andrea Selvey 

I was shocked and deeply disappointed by the unfounded and inappropriate remarks made last week by Senator Tyron Whitten under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

The Senator’s comments are misleading and irresponsible; they have misrepresented the Shire’s governance practices and unfairly cast doubt on the integrity of our staff and Members of Council. 

It is unacceptable for a public representative to use parliamentary privilege to make unsubstantiated claims about individuals or organisations without evidence or accountability.

Such behaviour undermines confidence in local government and attempts to drive a wedge between the tier of government that delivers essential services on the ground and the community it serves. 

Unfortunately, when statements made under privilege are circulated publicly, some members of the community may assume they are factual, despite being completely without foundation.
It is easy to spout allegations from a position of privilege, but doing so without evidence shows a lack of personal and professional integrity.

Concerns about conduct should be referred to the proper oversight bodies such as the Corruption and Crime Commission. The Shire has received no formal enquiries or allegations in relation to the matters raised by the Senator and would, as always, cooperate fully if approached.

We maintain strong and transparent governance protocols, fully compliant with legislative requirements, including mandatory conflict-of-interest declarations and recusal processes, which are rigorously applied.

Like all local governments, the Shire regularly provides grants to community groups to support local initiatives. The Augusta Margaret River Clean Community Energy group received approximately $134,000 in total funding over six years, consistent with the policy framework of the time. In 2022, the group refunded $40,654.60 in unspent funds, and they have not received any funding since then.  

We remain focused on serving our community with integrity, transparency and accountability – values that underpin every decision we make. I would expect all public representatives to uphold similar values. 

Any community member with concerns or questions is welcome to contact me to discuss.

Andrea Selvey
CEO, Shire of Augusta Margaret River