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Labor MP questions whether own government committed 'official misconduct'

By Felicity Caldwell

Labor backbencher Jo-Ann Miller has suggested her own government's handling of corruption allegations could be tantamount to official misconduct or maladministration.

But Deputy Premier Jackie Trad fired back, and said she "completely and utterly" refuted the allegations.

Labor member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller has accused her own colleagues of 'reckless decision-making'.

Labor member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller has accused her own colleagues of 'reckless decision-making'.

The member for Bundamba, who has repeatedly subjected her colleagues to not-so-friendly fire over allegations of council corruption, repeated claims that she told Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about allegations relating to the former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale, and said Ms Trad was aware too.

Ms Miller also seized on an LNP Right to Information request that uncovered 326 pages of documents relating to complaints received by Ms Trad while she was local government minister about corruption at the Ipswich council.

It is understood the documents relate to three complaints that were forwarded to the Crime and Corruption Commission.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington referred to "326 complaints" in the Parliament and Ms Miller said "today we learn that hundreds of complaints" were sent to the minister, but the RTI charges estimates notice states there were 326 pages.

"I want to know, given these revelations and the obvious lack of action, whether this amounts to official misconduct or maladministration, or worse, given very little appears to have been done," Ms Miller said, speaking under parliamentary privilege.

"Even though there is a duty to get on with the job and look at these matters and also a duty to notify the CCC of alleged corrupt conduct.

"It is a disgraceful situation ... that complainants were treated in such an offhanded manner."

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Ms Miller said the people of Ipswich deserved better.

"In fact, I believe such behaviour constitutes continuous reckless decision-making, reckless judgement, and perhaps even reckless political favouritism, bearing in mind that many of the councillors in Ipswich were elected one way or another, but perceived to be elected as Labor councillors," she said.

Ms Miller said she was aware of a suicide, hospitalisations due to stress and anxiety, resignations and sackings due to local government corruption allegations.

Apologising to affected people, Ms Miller said it was "time to close the door on this bad behaviour and wicked culture within some councils in Queensland".

"It's time for councillors to be put under the spotlight for their alleged unlawful behaviour, face justice and never allow or accept such poor oversight of their behaviour, including by ministers for local government and their departments," she said.

Ms Miller said there were 93 MPs in the Queensland Parliament but more than 700 councillors in the state, with councils "over-governed".

"And people in Ipswich are asking this question, and I know they are across the state, which is, why does there need to be hundreds of full-time councillors to look after rats, rubbish, rates, roads and recycling, except maybe not the latter in Ipswich given the recent controversies," she said.

But Ms Trad said she completely and utterly refuted the allegations made by Ms Miller and the LNP in Parliament.

"These allegations were made without any substantiation," Ms Trad said.

"When I was local government minister, absolutely every single complaint or allegation that I received or my department received was managed according to the law."

Ms Trad said she would make a statement in the Parliament on Wednesday refuting "every single one of the comments and allegations" made by the LNP and Ms Miller in Parliament.

Ms Miller launched the broadside during a debate on two government bills that would reform local government, including giving the minister more powers to sack councils.

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Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p4zfhv