Councillor apologises for trying to bill ratepayers for strip club beer

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 23:30

He said he walked into Crazy Horse Revue – which has a bright neon sign at the front and labels itself Australia's hottest gentleman's club – wanting a late-night beer before an early flight and stayed "20 minutes max".

A councillor at one of Perth's biggest local governments has apologised for trying to bill ratepayers for a trip to a strip club while on council business in Adelaide.

City of Joondalup councillor Nige Jones called the move a "genuine mistake", claiming he walked into Crazy Horse Revue – which has a bright neon sign at the front and labels itself online as "Australia's most iconic gentleman's club" – wanting a late-night beer before an early flight and stayed "20 minutes max".

"I couldn't sleep, and I went out for a drink thinking it might help me sleep, went into the first bar two minutes from where I was," he told Perth's 6PR radio on Tuesday.

" … got a beer, and then a few minutes later a girl walked out, skimpily dressed, and I realised what's going on.

"So I skolled and went."

On August 26, he submitted an expense claim for costs associated with the conference trip and included the strip club beer.

The council censured him earlier this month and ordered him to undertake an "education course on ethical decision making" and provide a "written reflection on his actions".

"His claim for reimbursement of an alcoholic beverage at the Crazy Horse Revue and attendance at this establishment while on City-funded travel does not meet the standards of conduct expected of a Council member," the council noted.

The reflection was sent in on November 19 and Jones said he'd booked himself in for the course in March, the earliest date available.

"It's definitely not where a councillor should be," Jones told 6PR.

"I accept that, and I apologise to the ratepayers for that, but like I said, I didn't actually receive the reimbursement – the council picked up on it straight away."

Jones said the strip club visit took place about 11.30pm and he had "documentation to prove that I was in the next pub not shortly after".

"At the time, I just thought it was a mistake and I left," he said, admitting he was embarrassed about the incident now.

"It was like, you know, it was 20 minutes max in there.

"You know, if I was a pervo, I would have stayed in longer."

If he had his time again, he "wouldn't have put the bloody receipt in".

"But I did it in kind of innocence, because I didn't think I was up to no good," Jones said.

"I was just looking for a late beer.

"I was in an area that I'm not familiar with, you know, I'm not familiar with Adelaide at all."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.