An attempt to move a vote of no confidence in a Western Australian councillor who made national headlines for his commentary around the Russian election has failed.
Just prior to being sworn in as a Town of Port Hedland councillor, Adrian McRae travelled to Russia to act as an "independent election supervisor".
He appeared on Russian state television, calling the country's presidential election "transparent" and congratulating Vladimir Putin on his victory.
Since being sworn in as a councillor, Cr McRae has done numerous interviews reaffirming his stance on the Russian election.
The election sawMr Putin claim 87 per cent of the vote, with Western leaders denouncing the process as undemocratic.
At a special council meeting on Monday, Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter put forward a vote of no confidence criticising Cr McRae's "appalling lack of judgement" and accusing him of breaching the councillor code of conduct.
After more than three hours of impassioned debate, the motion was voted down 6-3.
Stirring painful memories
Members of Port Hedland's Ukrainian and Eastern European community attended the meeting and spoke about the impact Cr McRae's comments had had on them.
The members of the community asked that only their first names be used, citing concerns over their visa security and personal safety in the town.
Julia said she was disappointed by the result.
"I didn't expect that so many councillors would vote against the motion," she said.
"I thought it's so obvious, of what's going on in the world, that Russia is the aggressor."
In an impact statement provided to councillors and the ABC, Julia's mother Natalia, who hails from the occupied Donetsk region, said Cr McRae's comments reminded her of Russian propaganda.
"Aggressive Russian propaganda has divided my family and I am upset to hear the same Kremlin narratives used by Cr McRae," she wrote.
Belarusian Australian woman Svetlana told the ABC that Cr McRae's comments had caused her a great deal of pain.
"It triggers quite raw emotions."
Cr McRae thanked members of the local Ukrainian community for sharing their stories at Monday night's meeting and acknowledged he had "stirred up sentiments and feelings".
Cr McRae said he wanted to "go and see how a superpower of the world runs its elections" and said he had "never seen anything so transparent".
In the meeting, Cr McRae clarified that he had not met President Vladimir Putin and that he self-funded his trip, aside from a car and driver.
The images of the councillor's Russian trip emerged via Simeon Boikov, who goes by the moniker Aussie Cossack on social media and who was recently involved in promotingfalse allegations surrounding the Bondi Junction stabbings.
Since returning from Russia, Cr McRae has done a range of media interviews that included a challenge to WA Premier Roger Cook for a debate and insults about Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Councillor Tim Turner said while he shared Cr McRae's fascination with geopolitics, Cr McRae's "goading" of state and federal politicians did "immeasurable damage" to the Town of Port Hedland's reputation.
Councillor Ambika Rebello also supported the vote of no confidence motion, saying councillors should not use their position for personal activism.
"In an increasingly polarised world, we as leaders need to be the voice of reason that places the needs of the people of Hedland first and foremost," she said.
But councillors Ash Christensen, Sven Arentz and Lorraine Butson argued against a vote of no confidence, citing concerns about further division in the council and imploring councillors to work together.
Cr Christensen apologised to the community and council staff, describing the vote as an "embarrassing" situation that could have been handled behind closed doors.
Members of the public who attended in support of Cr McRae said he should have the right to free speech and praised his engagement on local issues.
Port Hedland local Roger Higgins described Cr McRae as an "intelligent guy" who had "been over there [to Russia] and made up his own mind".
The supporters of Cr McRae were heavily critical of Mayor Peter Carter, claiming that he caused unnecessary division in the community by calling the meeting.
Councillors in February voted five-two in support of a no confidence motion in Cr Carter, airing wide-ranging concerns including international travel and his communication style.
There is no power in the Local Government Act to remove elected members via a no confidence motion and Cr Carter has declined to step down.
During Monday night's meeting, Councillor Camillo Blanco tried to hold another vote of no confidence in the mayor, suggesting Cr McRae's name should be replaced with Cr Carter's.
However, that motion did not proceed.
