The Subiaco mayor has confirmed the city will not be considering amalgamating with another local government.
In a statement posted online on Friday, the city said it would remain “focused on its future, prioritising what is in the best interests of the people of its district while being receptive to reforms that can lift the local government sector as a whole”.
It came after Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley introduced the Local Government Amendment and Repeal Bill 2026 to Parliament on October 14, “which will support long-term sustainability, boost voter participation and modernise how local governments operate”.
The reforms include four-year election cycles and support for voluntary amalgamations.
Subiaco mayor David McMullen confirmed the city “was not considering amalgamation with another local government before the Minister’s recent announcement and is not currently doing so in the wake of that announcement”.
“Local reporting on 16 October 2026 that the city received an invitation from the Town of Claremont to ‘a formal meeting to discuss next steps to investigate potential amalgamations or boundary changes’ is incorrect,” he said.
The City of Subiaco does not share a border with the Town of Claremont.
Mr McMullen said merger and amalgamation discussions should be considered in the context of the Local Government Act 1995, under which local governments must provide for the good government of people in their district while also considering sustainability, long-term impacts and collaboration with other local governments.
“This is not just a question of economies of scale,” he said.
“Local governments succeed and fail based on how effectively they use available resources, the quality of their governance, and the services and outcomes they deliver for their communities.
“Subiaco is financially secure, efficiently run and well governed. We have quality services and infrastructure and continue to invest in our community and modernise the way the city operates.”
The City of Subiaco currently works with other local governments through groups such as the Perth Inner City Group and Western Suburbs Alliance.
“Reform and collaboration don’t necessarily require amalgamation,” Mr McMullen said.
“Existing partnerships demonstrate what local governments can achieve by working together, irrespective of their individual size or boundaries.”
He said the progression of any future proposal involving Subiaco would need to be given careful consideration at a council and executive level, and discussed with the community.
“The City of Subiaco will continue to make sure the interests of the people we represent remains at the forefront,” he said.
The City of Subiaco has a population of about 17,000 residents.