Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi is embarrassing herself by vowing to fight her 18-month disqualification from public office for repeatedly failing to disclose gifts and travel, the WA premier says.
The State Administrative Tribunal found Ms Scaffidi breached the Local Government Act 45 times by not disclosing gifts, including a BHP Billiton-funded $US24,000 package to the Beijing Olympics, which was one of five breaches she admitted.
When her penalty was handed down this week, Ms Scaffidi vowed to continue the legal fight to keep her job, and her lawyer sought to apply for a stay on the order pending an appeal.
But Premier Mark McGowan believes the penalty is "about right" and has again called on Ms Scaffidi to quit.
"I'd urge the lord mayor to resign. I think it's embarrassing for her, it's embarrassing for the city and it's embarrassing for the state," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"I don't think she's recognising the huge community concern and the fact that it's bringing the City of Perth into disrepute.
"If she really loved the City of Perth, as she says she does, the best course of action would be to go now."
Opposition leader Mike Nahan said Ms Scaffidi was entitled to go through the legal process, but it was not good for the city.
"She should have resigned already," he told reporters.
"Some of the breaches are quite significant."
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