In short:
More than 100 people gathered in Truganina on 26 April for a third protest calling for Wyndham mayor Preet Singh to resign. The demonstration came ahead of a planned no confidence vote and ongoing scrutiny over council stability.
Wyndham Advertiser
No Sight to Scandal's End
A third protest was held calling for Wyndham mayor Preet Singh to resign, as pressure over the council’s leadership crisis continues to build.
More than 100 people gathered at Mainview Park in Truganina on 26 April, marking the first time a protest was staged within Cr Singh’s own Bemin ward.
Some attendees wore t-shirts featuring Cr Singh’s image alongside the words “Do the right thing, resign”.
The demonstration followed two earlier protests in recent weeks, as the standoff over Cr Singh’s position entered a fourth week.
The controversy centres on a reference provided for Kashyap Patel prior to Cr Singh’s election to Wyndham City Council.
Patel pleaded guilty to grooming a child under 16, transmitting indecent communication to a person under 16, and sexual assault of a child under 16, and was sentenced in September 2024 to nine months’ jail and a two-year community corrections order.
(The reference in question)
Mayor Not Backing Down Despite Community Pleas
The state government has provided no further updates on the municipal monitor it said it would appoint on 1 April to help restore stability at the council.
Last week, Cr Singh issued a public statement confirming he would not step down.
He said his family, particularly his daughters, have “endured serious emotional trauma, abuse, and defamation” throughout the controversy.
The ongoing situation is placing increasing strain on council operations, with governance concerns now extending beyond the chamber.
Cr Singh was set to face a no confidence vote at an unscheduled council meeting on 27 April, which was to be held online.
Questions Remain About Day-to-day Functioning
A second meeting on 28 April is also scheduled to be conducted remotely and was to consider the draft 2026–27 budget — a process involving debate and decisions on hundreds of millions of dollars in council spending.
Questions continued to be raised about Cr Singh’s capacity to carry out mayoral duties during the crisis, including whether it was appropriate or practical for him to act as the city’s public spokesperson.
The situation is also expected to create ongoing professional challenges within the organisation, with potential impacts on staff wellbeing as the uncertainty continues.
