Five councillors and mayors due to be automatically suspended

Five Queensland councillors and mayors will be automatically suspended as early as next week, under a massive overhaul of local government.

Under laws passed on Thursday night, councillors charged with serious integrity offences - such as bribery, corruption and fraud - will be automatically suspended on full pay, pending the outcome in court.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will now have more powers to sack councils.Credit: AAP Image/ Dave Hunt

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe confirmed five councillors would be affected.

It is understood the provision will affect Logan mayor Luke Smith, Ipswich former mayor Andrew Antoniolli, two members of councils from remote Indigenous communities and one other councillor.

A sixth councillor would have been affected, but was disqualified because of a failure to attend the required number of meetings.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was "pretty confident" the councillors involved were aware they would be stood down.

"Because they are indeed clearly integrity offences that they relate to," he said.

The automatic suspension would be lifted if the person was found not guilty or the charges were dismissed.

Mr Hinchliffe will also write to every councillor and mayor in Queensland to advise them of the new rules.

Logan mayor Luke Smith took to social media on Thursday night in response to the new laws.

"So while then (sic) State Government is claiming credit to stop innocent Mayors charged with corruption, the m1 is still a mess at 6:00 pm - what is this government actually doing?" Mr Smith posted on Facebook.

The powers were among two bills passed through Parliament, which ban donations from property developers at a local and state government level, establish an Office of the Independent Assessor to investigate and deal with misconduct and ban people convicted of integrity offences from being a councillor for up to seven years.

The LNP unsuccessfully tried to also ban political donations by unions.

The bills will come into effect upon assent by the Governor, which could be as early as next week.

The laws also give Mr Hinchliffe more powers to sack councillors, mayors - and dissolve entire councils - "in the public interest".

What is in the public interest will be decided on considerations, such as complying with the law, accountability and transparency, corruption or serious maladministration and not managing conflicts of interest, Mr Hinchliffe said.

Mr Hinchliffe began moves to appoint an administrator at the Ipswich council and asked councillors why they should not be sacked earlier this month after the crime watchdog charged Cr Antoniolli with seven counts of fraud.

Ipswich councillors still have until May 24 to show cause as to why they should not lose their job.

But Mr Hinchliffe would be able to move to sack councillors in Ipswich - should he decide to take that action - as soon as the bill becomes law, rather than waiting for the current show cause period to expire.

That would mean issuing another show cause notice, of between seven to 28 days.

Mr Hinchliffe said the reforms would make mayors, councillors and councils more accountable to their communities.

"There are currently a number of mayors, councillors and council officers in Queensland facing dozens of criminal charges between them," he said.

"The Crime and Corruption Commission has warned there are more charges on the way.

"Our reforms are not designed to catch those who make genuine mistakes, but to deal with the tiny minority not living up to community expectations."

Mr Antoniolli and Logan City Council have been contacted for comment.