Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says there "is no question" of her being dismissed, despite a State Administrative Tribunal ruling she breached local government laws by not disclosing travel and gifts.

Key points: Tribunal rules Lisa Scaffidi failed to disclose travel and gifts

Tribunal rules Lisa Scaffidi failed to disclose travel and gifts It finds the Perth Lord Mayor committed 45 breaches and was aware her travel was paid for by third parties

It finds the Perth Lord Mayor committed 45 breaches and was aware her travel was paid for by third parties But Cr Scaffidi says "there is no question" of her being sacked

The tribunal found Cr Scaffidi committed 45 serious breaches of the Local Government Act by accepting gifts and travel, including a $US36,826 trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics funded by BHP Billiton.

She had previously admitted to five breaches, but denied wrongdoing in the other 40 instances.

Both Premier Mark McGowan and Opposition Leader Mike Nahan called on Cr Scaffidi to resign in the wake of the findings, but she remained defiant.

In a statement, the Lord Mayor said the SAT's judgment confirmed she had not acted corruptly or attempted to exert improper influence.

She said she hoped those who had "viciously criticised" her could see how extensive her promotion of the city had been.

"What has not been acceptable is the political interference and trial by media I have had to endure for nearly two years while continuing to perform my role at full capacity," Cr Scaffidi said.

"This has not been an easy ride but I have not and still don't complain as I accept it is 'par for the course' in public life.

"I also take this opportunity to remind everyone that contrary to continued speculation, there is no question of my being dismissed from the role: what is sought by the CEO of the department is a period of suspension.

"I have always acknowledged that a penalty needs to be imposed — the issue remains what the appropriate penalty will be."

Scaffidi ignorance plea rejected

For much of the SAT hearing Cr Scaffidi pleaded ignorance about who was paying for the gifts and travel, but SAT president Justice Jeremy Curthoys rejected her defence.

"She ought to have made enquiries and satisfied herself as to whether third-party contributions to expenses were being made," he said.

"A failure to make enquiries and effectively plead ignorance, is not capable of establishing an honest and reasonably held belief."

The tribunal highlighted emails sent by Cr Scaffidi in which she talked about one trip to Japan not being "as attractive" if her husband had to pay the business class airfare, while in another she talked about letting the organisers of a conference in South Korea know she wanted to stay in a five-star hotel.

"I don't live in trash — don't stay in it," she said in the email.

The SAT ruling follows a damning report from the Corruption and Crime Commission in 2015, which found Ms Scaffidi had "failed in her duties" by not disclosing the benefits in her annual return.

The CCC report prompted an inquiry by the director-general of the Department for Local Government that found Ms Scaffidi failed to properly disclose gifts and contributions on multiple occasions between January 2008 and October 2015.

Pressure increases on Lord Mayor

Mr McGowan — who wrote to Cr Scaffidi last month urging her to resign and saying the State Government had lost confidence in her — said the findings were "pretty damning".

"It's time for her to take action and stand down and if she won't take action, the councillors themselves need to pass a no-confidence motion in her leadership of that council," he said.

The Premier promised during the election campaign to sack the Perth council if existing legislation allowed him to, but has since conceded that would be difficult.

Cr Scaffidi says she has been "viciously criticised" despite extensively promoting Perth. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )

But Mr McGowan said the Government was considering amending the Local Government Act, to ensure it had the power to sack Cr Scaffidi or the council.

Dr Nahan said he had spoken to Cr Scaffidi to ask for her resignation on the basis that it was "untenable" for her to continue as Lord Mayor.

"The WA Liberals have waited for due process to occur. Now that the SAT has made this finding, we call on Ms Scaffidi to resign," he said in a statement.

Local Government Minister David Templeman also described Ms Scaffidi's position as untenable, but said suspending the council and appointing commissioners in its place was something the Government "should avoid".

"That is another new process that can take a long, long time and it is costly," he told Macquarie Radio.

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