Promise · Council divided
No steep parking fee rises
Council has voted on this 12 times, between Nov 2020 and Feb 2026. 5 of the 12 decisions went the promise's way. Members split on 10 of them. Catherine Lezer, who made this promise, voted in line 5 of 11 times.
Lower rates and fairer parking
Catherine Lezer · Candidate profile, 2020
Perth CPI used for each vote
Perth all groups CPI, annual change to the latest quarter the ABS had published before the day of the vote.
| Vote | Quarter | Perth CPI | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 2022 | Dec quarter 2021 | 5.7% | ABS release |
| 22 Nov 2022 | Sep quarter 2022 | 6.0% | ABS release |
| 26 Mar 2024 | Dec quarter 2023 | 3.6% | ABS release |
| 25 Feb 2025 | Dec quarter 2024 | 2.9% | ABS release |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Dec quarter 2024 | 2.9% | ABS release |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Dec quarter 2025 | 3.9% (calculated from the ABS Perth index) | ABS release |
Each member's record
- Voted a mixture of for and against2 of 5
split 2 of 5 - Voted generally for5 of 7
split 5 of 7 - Voted a mixture of for and against5 of 11
split 3 of 9 - Voted generally against2 of 7
split 2 of 7 - Voted a mixture of for and against5 of 12
split 3 of 10 - Voted against it so farEarly record: 1 vote0 of 1
split 0 of 1 - Voted generally against4 of 11
split 2 of 9 - Voted against it so farEarly record: 1 vote0 of 1
split 0 of 1 - Voted against it so farEarly record: 1 vote0 of 1
split 0 of 1
Every vote
24 FEB 2026
City of Perth Parking Fee ReviewCarried 8–1. In line with the promise: a No vote.
Why
Raises parking fees from 30 March 2026 (boom-gated hourly up 50c and weekday day up $1; app hourly up to 70c and day up $1.50 to $1.60; mean 9.2% across changed fee lines), cuts three-hour free to two hours at three car parks and removes one-hour free at Point Fraser bar 20 trial bays, above Perth CPI of 3.9% (2026-02-24 OCM Minutes pp205-206, 211-216).
YREYBruce Reynolds voted Yes, not in lineNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, in lineYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, not in lineYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, not in lineYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, not in lineYMALisa Ma voted Yes, not in lineYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, not in lineYPATChris Patton voted Yes, not in lineYPACAdam Pacan voted Yes, not in lineYes: Reynolds, Lezer, Doshi, Gobbert, Ma, Ko, Patton, Pacan
No (in line): Goncalves
25 MAR 2025
Notice of Motion: Activate Free Car Parks for Wellington Square Event DaysMember’s motionLost 3–4. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Approves free weekend parking at the Royal Street car park for City-approved Wellington Square events expected to draw over 5,000 people: free parking, so a Yes is in line (2025-03-25 OCM Minutes p56).
NREYBruce Reynolds voted No, not in lineNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, not in line·LEZYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, in lineNGOBLiam Gobbert voted No, not in line–MANKOViktor Ko voted No, not in line–PAT–PACYes (in line): Doshi and 2 former councillors
No: Reynolds, Goncalves, Gobbert, Ko
Did not vote: Lezer
Not yet on Council: Ma, Patton, Pacan
25 FEB 2025
City of Perth Parking Fee ReviewCarried 5–3. In line with the promise: a No vote.
Why
Removes the Free Night Parking promotion and introduces a $5 flat fee from 6pm in off-street car parks: declines free parking, so a No is in line under the rule (2025-02-25 OCM Minutes pp58-59, 64).
Note. Cr Lezer seconded the officer recommendation, then voted against this part, ending free night parking, after it was split into three. She had moved the lost amendment to keep free night parking from 7pm (minutes pp62-64).
NREYBruce Reynolds voted No, in lineNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, in lineNLEZCatherine Lezer voted No, in lineYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, not in lineYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, not in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, not in line–PAT–PACYes: Doshi, Gobbert, Ko and 2 former councillors
No (in line): Reynolds, Goncalves, Lezer
Not yet on Council: Ma, Patton, Pacan
25 FEB 2025
City of Perth Parking Fee ReviewCarried 7–1. In line with the promise: a No vote.
Why
Raises parking fees from 31 March 2025 per Attachment A (projected $3.7M a year). Every listed rate rises: hourly rates mostly 7% to 12.5% (up to 20%), weekend rates 10% to 14%, day rates 3.4% to 6.7%; only one line (the Nedlands-Crawley on-street day rate, 2.6%) is at or below Perth CPI of 2.9% (2025-02-25 OCM Minutes pp57-58, 64; Attachment A pp65-68).
Note. Cr Lezer seconded the officer recommendation that contained this fee rise (minutes p62).
YREYBruce Reynolds voted Yes, not in lineNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, in lineYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, not in lineYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, not in lineYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, not in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, not in line–PAT–PACYes: Reynolds, Lezer, Doshi, Gobbert, Ko and 2 former councillors
No (in line): Goncalves
Not yet on Council: Ma, Patton, Pacan
25 FEB 2025
City of Perth Parking Fee ReviewAmendmentLost 3–5. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
A Yes vote keeps free night parking rather than ending it (p63), and LEZ4 counts ending free parking as not in line.
What it changed. Replaces the officer's point removing Free Night Parking and bringing in a $5 flat fee from 6pm with a point keeping Free Night Parking, starting from 7pm, from 31 March 2025.
YREYBruce Reynolds voted Yes, in lineYGONDavid Goncalves voted Yes, in lineYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in lineNDOSRaj Doshi voted No, not in lineNGOBLiam Gobbert voted No, not in line–MANKOViktor Ko voted No, not in line–PAT–PACYes (in line): Reynolds, Goncalves, Lezer
No: Doshi, Gobbert, Ko and 2 former councillors
Not yet on Council: Ma, Patton, Pacan
26 MAR 2024
Parking Fee IncreaseCarried 7–1. In line with the promise: a No vote.
Why
Raises parking fees from 1 May 2024: meter fees in non-boom-gated and on-street parking up 11.5% and boom-gated hourly up 50c and day rates up $1, above Perth CPI of 3.6% (2024-03-26 OCM Minutes pp154, 159, 161-163).
·REYNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, in lineYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, not in lineYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, not in lineYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, not in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, not in line–PAT–PACYes: Lezer, Doshi, Gobbert, Ko and 3 former councillors
No (in line): Goncalves
Did not vote: Reynolds
Not yet on Council: Ma, Patton, Pacan
26 MAR 2024
Parking Fee IncreaseAmendmentCarried 7–1. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
A Yes vote keeps free night parking rather than ending it (p158), and LEZ4 counts a vote for free parking as in line.
What it changed. Keeps the fee rises for boom-gated, non-boom-gated and on-street parking but drops the return of the $5 night rate, continuing free night parking subject to a review in April 2025.
Reasons given in the minutes. Like everybody in our community, we as a business are wrestling with the increased cost of doing business. Many of the Fees and Charges associated with doing business have gone up during this period post COVID. The cost of providing the very high level of services we do (events cleanliness safety amenity, administration etc.) is increasing and I am mindful that it Is a balancing act for our team, led by the Chief Financial Officer, to try and keep revenue coming in. When more revenue is required, it is usually when rate rises are required. I understand, and accept, the small increase in some parking fees, however as part of the Council team that were motivated to activate our city and provide opportunities to businesses and ratepayers who were struggling during COVID, the free parking after 6pm has resonated with the community. Free parking in every City of Perth car park after 6pm has sent a clear message that the City of Perth is open [one line removed by the reader] Whilst this free parking after 6pm cannot last forever, hence the review in 2025, another year feels right to cement the resurgent position of the City of Perth.
·REYNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, not in lineYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in lineYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, in lineYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, in line–PAT–PACYes (in line): Lezer, Doshi, Gobbert, Ko and 3 former councillors
No: Goncalves
Did not vote: Reynolds
Not yet on Council: Ma, Patton, Pacan
22 NOV 2022
Parking Fee ReviewCarried 5–2. In line with the promise: a No vote.
Why
Amends parking fees from 16 January 2023 per Attachment 13.1A, with hourly and day rates up $0.50 to $2.00 (mean 13.1% across the 65 listed fee lines, range 3.7% to 25%), above Perth CPI of 6.0% (2022-11-22 OCM Minutes pp49-50, 55-58).
Note. The officer report says the rise offset $2.1 million a year of free night parking, which councillors had chosen to keep, and about $400,000 of rising costs. City parking fees had not risen since 2018 (minutes pp49-50).
–REY–GONYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, not in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, not in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, not in line–PAT–PACYes: Lezer, Gobbert, Ko and 2 former councillors
No (in line): 2 former councillors
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
26 APR 2022
Notice of Motion: Councillor Sandy Anghie: Free Parking on Hay Street in West PerthMember’s motionCarried 7–2. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Endorses a trial to 30 June 2023 extending one-hour free parking on Hay Street and to Outram and Colin Streets, West Perth, and reducing paid Saturday parking hours: free parking, so a Yes is in line under the rule (2022-04-26 OCM Minutes p311).
–REY–GONNLEZCatherine Lezer voted No, not in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, in line–PAT–PACYes (in line): Gobbert, Ko and 5 former councillors
No: Lezer and 1 former councillor
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
13 JUL 2021
Adoption of the 2021/22 BudgetCarried 6–2. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
A parking fee freeze keeps any rise at or below CPI (p.16).
What it changed. Adds to point 10 that the 2021/22 Schedule of Fees and Charges is adopted with no increase to parking related fees and charges.
Reasons given in the minutes. To ensure that there are no increases in Parking Fees and Charges in 2021/22 to support our ratepayers, our retailers and all of the visitors to the City of Perth.
–REY–GONNLEZCatherine Lezer voted No, not in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MA·KO–PAT–PACYes (in line): Gobbert and 5 former councillors
No: Lezer and 1 former councillor
Did not vote: Ko
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
25 MAY 2021
Notice of Motion: Deputy Lord Mayor Anghie: Continuation of Free Parking TrialUnanimousMember’s motionCarried 9–0. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Continues free three-hour weekend parking at three City car parks for 2021/22, a vote for free parking (p241).
What it changed. Amended motion: car parks no longer named.
–REY–GONYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, in line–PAT–PACYes (in line): Lezer, Gobbert, Ko and 6 former councillors
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
3 NOV 2020
Notice of Motion: 3 Hour Free Parking TrialUnanimousMember’s motionCarried 8–0. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Introduces free parking (first three hours, weekends) in City car parks, which is in line with no steep fee rises (minutes p90).
–REY–GONYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, in line–PAT–PACYes (in line): Lezer, Gobbert, Ko and 5 former councillors
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan