· In short: Port Hedland councillor Adrian McRae has appeared on Russian TV congratulating Vladimir Putin on his recent election.

· Mr McRae called the election victory the most "transparent" in the world, but Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described it as "an insult to democracy".

· What's next? Adrian McRae was due to be sworn in as Port Hedland councillor on March 11, but due to being overseas the ceremony will occur at a later date.

A West Australian councillor has endorsed and congratulated Vladimir Putin on his election win during a bizarre appearance on Russian state television.

In a video published on Russian state media, Port Hedland man Adrian McRae congratulated Mr Putin on his "transparent and comprehensive" victory.

Western leaders have condemned the election  which saw Mr Putin claim a 87.28 per cent share of the vote – as undemocratic, citing widespread voter intimidation and polling conducted in areas of occupied Ukraine.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the result was an "insult to democracy", while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the vote could only be described as "undemocratic".

But Mr McRae, who was elected to the mining town's council at an extraordinary election held this year, was fulsome in his praise for the Russian President.

"Can I please pass on my most sincere congratulations to Mr Vladimir Putin," he said.

"In my lifetime, the world has never seen such a transparent and comprehensive victory as what we saw here over the last three days."

ation" about any "awards" being given.(Supplied: AussieCossack, Telegram)

'Independent' observer

Mr McRae reportedly flew to Russia as an "independent international observer" at the invitation of the Russian government.

"We can confirm that Mr Adrian McRae, along with many other foreign nationals, took part in the election observation program during the elections of the President of the Russian Federation," the Russian embassy said in a statement to the ABC.

"Mr McRae travelled to Russia at the invitation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation."

His travel to Russia and the Middle East has prevented him from being formally sworn in as a member of council.

Mr McRae ran as a candidate in the seat of Durack for The Great Australian Party, founded by former WA senator and noted conspiracy theorist Rod Culleton, at the 2022 federal election.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Russia's presidential elections were not free, fair or credible.

"The result is an insult to democracy," the spokesperson said.

"The Australian government remains deeply concerned by the deliberate exclusion of independent and impartial election observers in Russia."

'Geopolitical flashpoint'

Port Hedland is home to Australia's most significant bulk export port, which has a combined export value of more than $100 billion.

The local council has a recent history of serious dysfunction and has been described as being divided by "hatred" and "vendettas".

Resources industry and global affairs commentator Philip Kirchlechner said the town was a place of economic and political significance.

"It is certainly one of the one of the most important geopolitical flashpoints in the world because it is the number one iron ore export port in the world," he said.

"It is the channel through which iron ore gets exported, which is Australia's number one export product, and hugely important for the country."

Mr Kirchlechner said totalitarian regimes had a history of trying to gain credibility by courting former government officials.

"Often people take on these assignments not really fully understanding comparative political systems," he said.

"While certain regimes may seem very free and successful, the essential features are the same as, for example, during the Soviet Union, where you had not only very little political freedoms, but also there was no independent judiciary.

"I would find it very difficult to understand how someone can characterise a system without any independent judiciary, without any independent and free press to be transparent — it's just a contradiction in terms."

The trip goes against travel advice issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"Do not travel to Russia due to the security situation and the impacts of the military conflict with Ukraine," the department states.

Mr McRae and the Town of Port Hedland have been contacted for comment.