Doug William Diver: Former Shire of Ashburton deputy president charged with child sex offences faces court

The former deputy president of a Pilbara shire charged with more than a dozen child sex offences has faced court. Douglas William Diver — the former deputy president of the Shire of Ashburton — was charged following a joint investigation by the Child Abuse Squad and Karratha detectives into alleged offences in Tom Price, Armadale and Rockingham between 2021 and 2025. The 59-year-old faced Perth Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison wearing an n95 mask on Monday. He was charged with 15 offences, including five counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13 and one count of sexual penetration of a child under 13. He has also been charged with one count of possessing or copying an indecent or obscene article. Mr Diver only spoke to acknowledge his name and was remanded in custody. He will face court again on February 23 for a bail application. Mr Diver lost his position as deputy shire president in the Tom Price ward in 2021 after being pushed out by seven votes. He was elected as deputy president in 2019 after winning a spot on council in 2017. In a previous pitch to voters, Mr Diver said he owned his own business and had worked for Rio Tinto.