Ex-King Island Mayor Duncan McFie fronts court

Former King Island mayor, councillor, teacher and current business owner Duncan McFie faced the Supreme Court of Tasmania for the first time on Monday. What happens next.

Former King Island Mayor Duncan McFie made his first Supreme Court of Tasmania appearance on Monday in regard to one count each of possessing and producing child exploitation material. Picture: iStock

Former King Island Mayor Duncan McFie has made his first Supreme Court appearance for charges of possessing and producing child exploitation material.

Alistair Duncan McFie, 57, pleaded not guilty in September to one charge each of producing and possessing child exploitation material.

According to court records, Mr McFie, also known as Duncan McFie, allegedly committed the offences on December 14, 2022.

21/06/2018 King Island Mayor Duncan McFie at the King Island Marina. He is more supportive of the proposed fish farms for the island and is copping flak for secret talks with the salmon company. Picture: David Geraghty / The Australian.

Mr McFie was the mayor of the King Island Council between 2014 and 2018 and was later elected as the island’s deputy mayor in late 2022.

He is also the founder of Nugara-based business King Island Cloud Juice started in 1997, as well as a music teacher at the King Island District High School.

The Tasmanian Department of Education, Children and Young People confirmed in September that Mr McFie had been “suspended from the workplace”.

Crown prosecutor Anna Norton said she was unsure whether the matter would proceed to a trial following the issuing of a search warrant for his home, resulting in the seizure of electronic devices.

Former King Island Mayor and councillor Alistair Duncan McFie. Picture: Facebook

Legal counsel Guy Abel represented Mr McFie in court, telling Acting Justice David Porter on Monday that he had issued an application under section 361A of the Tasmanian Criminal Code.

This section allows for an argument before a jury is sworn in, including on matters of any question of law or procedure that has arisen or is expected to arise in the trial and questions that will ensure that the trial will be conducted “fairly and expeditiously”.

Mr McFie was bailed to appear for another court date on February 4 at 10am.

Originally published as Ex-King Island Mayor Duncan McFie fronts court