Labor councillor charged with drink-driving ‘seeking help’ amid call to resign

Veteran Labor councillor Peter Cumming says he is deeply ashamed and considering his future following a drink-driving charge received after a Christmas party, since sparking calls for his resignation.

The Wynnum Manly ward representative in Brisbane City Council, one of only five Labor figures in the chamber, has held the position since 1994 and led the opposition between its past two election losses.

Cumming’s case is set to be mentioned in the Wynnum Magistrates Court on Monday. Mid-range drink-driving is used to describe a blood alcohol level of between 0.1 and 0.15 per cent — above the legal limit of 0.05 per cent.

News of the drink-driving charge, which emerged on Thursday night, marks the second high-profile south-east Queensland council case in less than a year, following Redland mayor Karen Williams’ crash in June.

In a statement, Cumming said he was deeply ashamed and deserved any punishment he received — which could include a maximum penalty of six months in jail or a fine of almost $3000.

“I have let down myself and the community as well as those who support me. I will be seeking help and considering my future,” Cumming said.

I know how dangerous drink-driving is and as I said I am extremely sorry for what happened. There is never an excuse for drink-driving.

Peter Cumming

Labor’s council opposition leader, Deagon ward councillor Jared Cassidy, said he was only recently made aware of the charge and had expressed his disappointment to Cumming.

“It’s simply unacceptable and I told Peter that,” he said.

Labor’s state Transport Minister Mark Bailey went further, echoing calls from the state LNP opposition’s integrity spokesperson Fiona Simpson.

“I think he should resign,” Bailey told reporters. “I’ve said that about Karen Williams, I’ll say that about Peter Cumming ...[you] shouldn’t be endangering the lives of your constituents and the general public, and that’s the same for any private individual as well.”

LNP-aligned Williams was sentenced to 80 hours of community service in August after pleading guilty to the more serious charge of high-range drink-driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.177 — more than three times the legal limit.

She has stared down wide-ranging calls for her resignation, but may yet face further penalties — including a recommendation she be sacked by Local Government Minister Steven Miles from the Councillor Conduct Tribunal.

The Office of the Independent Assessor, which reviews councillor misconduct complaints and can refer them to the CCT, declined to comment when contacted on Friday about whether it was also now reviewing Cumming’s case.

The situation is the latest blow to Cumming’s party, which within weeks will see the resignation of deputy leader Kara Cook — also its only woman in City Hall — a year out from the next election and 20 years since Labor lost the mayoralty.

Under council rules, decisions around replacing a colleague after their resignation are dealt with by the party. A decision on a new deputy leader is likely to only occur after Cook’s replacement in the Morningside ward.

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