Question: Our strata manager says only owners who attended the last AGM can vote on amending its minutes. Is that right, or can every owner vote?
In my view, our last AGM was fraught with irregularities. It was held in December, 17 months after the previous AGM, and I believe the voting process was flawed, among other issues. Because of the festive season and the delay in convening the first council meeting, the council was slow to respond to the strata manager about approving the minutes. The strata manager distributed the minutes without approval. The council directed the strata manager to edit the minutes, but they refused and said approval or otherwise would happen at the next general meeting.
We recently convened an EGM without the strata manager in attendance, and the strata company voted to amend the minutes. Before the meeting, the strata manager emailed an owner stating, “Please note that only those who were present at the AGM can vote on any changes to the minutes of the last meeting.”
Is this incorrect? I can’t see any provision in the Strata Titles Act 1985 that sets different voting rules for approving the minutes of a previous general meeting. In my view, the strata manager’s statement has affected the votes.
Answer: Any owner can vote to approve or amend the minutes of a previous general meeting, not just those who attended.
In Western Australia, the Strata Titles Act 1985 (the Act) does not restrict voting on minutes to owners who attended the previous meeting. Minutes are an official record of the strata company, and all owners are entitled to vote on motions placed on a general meeting agenda, including approving or amending past minutes.
No provision in the Act creates special voting rights for attendees of the earlier meeting. Any owner may move, discuss, vote on, or oppose amendments to minutes at a general meeting.
A statement that “only those present at the AGM can vote on changes to the minutes” is incorrect under WA law.
This post appears in the October 2026 edition of The WA Strata Magazine.
Luke Downie
WA Strata Consultant
E: strata.perth@gmail.com
P: 0456 589 639
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