A councillor from Western Australia has stepped down after admitting to an unexpected visit to a strip club during a business trip and subsequently attempting to claim expenses related to the outing.
Nige Jones, a member of the City of Joondalup council, attended the Crazy Horse Revue in Adelaide this past August. He later submitted an expense report that included the cost of a beer purchased at the strip club while attending a conference.
Jones explained that stopping by the venue, which is unmistakably marked with a neon sign and a suggestive logo, was an honest error. He stated he was only searching for a nightcap before his early morning flight.
Upon noticing a woman dressed provocatively, Jones said he realized he was inside a strip club and decided to leave after a brief 20-minute stay.
Speaking to 6PR radio in Perth, Jones acknowledged, “It’s certainly not a place for a councillor to be.”
He offered an apology to the local community, clarifying, “I accept responsibility and apologize to the ratepayers. However, I did not receive any reimbursement—the council caught it immediately.”
Jones was censured by the council this month after the discovery and ordered to undertake an “education course on ethical decision making” and provide a “written reflection on his actions”.
The reflection was sent in on November 19, and Jones said he booked himself in for the course at the earliest date in March.
