Lisa Scaffidi has continually blamed others for her mistakes. Credit:Jessica Hromas One of the most serious allegations in both the CCC report and departmental inquiry relate to the now infamous $US36,000 business class trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics with her husband Joe that she accepted from BHP Billiton, which had a $22,000 hiring fee waived by the City of Perth council three months after the invitation was sent to the Lord Mayor. Another allegation was an undeclared gift of accommodation at an exclusive Broome resort, paid for by property developer Hawaiian Investments. Ms Scaffidi later voted to approve a $180,000 grant to a consortium that included Hawaiian Investments for a CBD feasibility study. The department inquiry prompted deputy Lord Mayor Jim Limnios to urge Ms Scaffidi to step aside until investigations into her actions were complete. "In particular the Broome Cup and Beijing Olympics gifts [are concerning] because the council was doing business with the two organisations that provided the gifts," Mr Limnios said.

The SAT must now independently determine whether the 56-year-old incumbent committed any serious breaches after lengthy mediation between Ms Scaffidi and the department failed. Since her travel scandals became public in 2015, WA Premier Colin Barnett has repeatedly supported Ms Scaffidi in continuing to preside over the City of Perth, while Labor leader Mark McGowan has vowed on several occasions to sack her if he is elected premier in next month's state election. The Lord Mayor, who has been on the council since 2000, denies any wrongdoing and has repeatedly refused to stand down, maintaining her failure to properly declare gifts and travel was due to the City of Perth's flawed guidelines and policies. After the department made its inquiry public in May, a WAtoday poll of almost 4000 readers showed 94 per cent thought Ms Scaffidi should resign. The SAT hearing is scheduled to last four days but it could last only two, with the Department of Local Government pushing for disciplinary action against Ms Scaffidi in the form of a suspension, due mostly to:

- the lengthy duration of Mayor Scaffidi's tenure as an elected member of the City Council

- Mayor Scaffidi's statutory obligations did not change during this period

- the seriousness of the findings made against Mayor Scaffidi

- the high number of findings made against Mayor Scaffidi

- the need to encourage or maintain public confidence in local governments and the local government process

- the need to encourage or maintain public confidence in the provision of good governance of the persons in any local government district

- the need for general deterrence

- the circumstances in which the alleged breaches were committed

- the need to ensure consistency in the application of the law

May 21, 2015

Australian Federal Police refer Perth mayor Lisa Scaffidi to the Corruption and Crime Commission after US investigators found BHP Billiton gave her flights and tickets to the 2008 Beijing Olympics worth up to $US36,000 as part of a wider probe into the firm's entertainment of foreign officials, for which it was later fined $32 million. May 22

Scaffidi tries to take control of Kings Park, UWA, Crown Casino, the new Perth Stadium and Oxford Street in Leederville among other lucrative landmarks by incorporating them into redrawn City of Perth boundary maps. The grab for greater cash and control later fails when Colin Barnett abandons amalgamation plans. October 6

CCC declares she failed in her duties by accepting a raft of undeclared gifts and trips October 6

Claims she "would've disclosed my underwear" if she knew she had to in relation to the CCC findings, despite being on council for almost 10 years

October 7

Scaffidi pledges to release crucial documents in her defence but claims CCC Act prevents it. CCC then urges her to release them – she doesn't October 11

Deputy Mayor Rob Butler found to have also taken undeclared trip, later dumped by voters October 12

City of Perth ratepayers told they can't change postal votes in wake of Scaffidi misconduct October 14

Dumped from Local Government Standards Panel, which hears misconduct complaints against councillors October 16

Documents reveal she and council spend $1m hosting parties and guests at Council House

October 18

Narrowly avoids defeat in council elections. November 20

Forced to accept greater transparency measures to help City of Perth Act pass in Parliament November 30

Threatens to quit after Local Government Department launches its own review into her conduct January 20, 2016

Councillors sack City of Perth CEO Gary Stevenson, who pushed for greater transparency from council Late January

Imposes unofficial media ban on City of Perth council and staff in wake of CEO sacking

January 27

Subiaco Mayor says Scaffidi and council are too unstable to take on Subiaco residents March 1

Admits there are even more undisclosed overseas trips she has taken that are being probed March 3

Tells those worried about safety of Jacob's Ladder to "get a grip" and they deserve a "working over" for raising concerns about its future. It was closed indefinitely for urgent repairs soon after. March 15

Attacks respected Nine News journalist Liam Bartlett on social media about his "botox" and "bad breath" March 16

WA Premier says Scaffidi's reputation is damaged and calls for department to finalise investigation

May 11

Local Government report into Ms Scaffidi recommends she faces disciplinary action over 45 alleged breaches of the Local Government Act between 2008-2015, with the matter later referred to the State Administrative Tribunal over allegations of "serious breaches" in disclosing travel-related gifts and contributions May 12

Deputy Lord Mayor James Limnios calls on Scaffidi to stand aside from her job, saying it had become untenable June 2016

The Corruption and Crime Commission reveals it is investigating the City of Perth's abrupt, controversial sacking of CEO Gary Stevenson as well as non-disclosure of gifts and travel from other City of Perth councillors. Loading January 2017

A lengthy mediation process between the Department of Local Government and Ms Scaffidi fails, after the department pushed for the Lord Mayor to be suspended.

February 2017

The Lord Mayor fronts a State Administrative Tribunal, which will determine if she should be disciplined for the alleged 45 breaches Follow WAtoday on Twitter