Fourth Protest Planned Against Mayor

A fourth public protest against Wyndham mayor Preet Singh will be held outside the Wyndham Civic Centre on 18 May, as Wyndham City Council’s deepening leadership crisis shows little sign of ending.

The rally, scheduled for 6pm, comes after weeks of mounting political pressure that has failed to force Cr Singh from office, despite former mayor Jennie Barrera resigning, all fellow councillors publicly calling on him to resign and a unanimous no-confidence motion being passed against him.

The controversy centres on a character reference Cr Singh provided in April 2024 for a man later convicted of child sex offences.

Mayor Not Budging Despite Intense Pressure

While the reference formed part of standard sentencing material before the courts, its contents triggered widespread political and community backlash after the letter went viral on 31 March, revealing further details under Cr Singh’s Justice of the Peace signature.

In the letter, Cr Singh acknowledged the offending, writing the man was “extremely regretful for what he has done” and describing the offences as a “one-off event.”

Cr Singh has since defended his actions, stating the reference was provided under pressure after the man allegedly threatened self-harm.

There is no suggestion Cr Singh was involved in any offending, and character references remain a lawful and routine part of judicial proceedings.

Staggering Cost For Monitors

However, the fallout has escalated into one of the most significant governance crises Wyndham City Council has faced in recent years, with growing scrutiny over leadership standards, political judgement and public confidence in the organisation.

The latest protest will also take place just one week after municipal monitors officially begin work at Wyndham City Council on 11 May.

The Allan Labor Government appointed former senior bureaucrat Jim Gifford and governance expert Jo-Anne Mazzeo to oversee the embattled council following weeks of mounting instability and public pressure.

Their appointment comes at a significant cost, with the monitors expected to receive $1,375 per day — a bill ultimately paid for by Wyndham ratepayers.

Turmoil Continues Amid Stand-off

The monitors will remain in place until 31 January 2027, meaning the total cost to Wyndham ratepayers is expected to exceed $100,000 by the end of the appointment period.

The state government first announced a municipal monitor would be appointed on 1 April, however it took more than a month for the oversight process to formally begin, despite the crisis continuing to escalate publicly throughout that period.

Council meetings have since shifted online amid the turmoil, including key governance and budget meetings, while the political fallout continues to dominate debate across Wyndham