Town of Port Hedland councillor Lorraine Butson to move ‘vote of no confidence’ against Mayor Peter Carter

The historically embattled Port Hedland council, which just five years ago was suspended over infighting, will this week vote on whether they still have confidence in Mayor Peter Carter — despite it having no real power to remove him. Recently elected councillor Lorraine Butson will introduce a vote of no confidence against the mayor at the February 7 council meeting. It’s a move that would have no real impact on the council or the mayor’s position, with the Local Government Act providing no powers for a no confidence vote to see a mayor removed from office. Two of the seven councillors who will take part in the vote ran on a team ticket in the October 2021 election, spearheaded by Mayor Carter. Mayor Peter Carter said he did not understand the need for “tokenistic” proceedings. “It’s a political move aimed at making me look bad,” he said. “It’s a waste of time, and I think as leaders of the town we need to be working together for the betterment of the town, not taking cheap swipes to gain votes.” The move comes amid an ongoing defamation lawsuit, in which Mayor Peter Carter is suing councillor Camilo Blanco over comments made in a video posted to social media.