Quirk's integrity questioned over failure to release "secret" IT report

Opposition councillors have called Brisbane's Lord Mayor Graham Quirk secretive and accused him of putting his integrity at stake over the failure to release an external review into the now terminated $122 million IT contact with TechnologyOne.

Cr Quirk revealed in January the contract, designed to replace 13 systems with new "local government system project (LGS)" was delayed and could have a cost blow-out of $60 million.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the council has terminated its $122 million IT contract with Technology OneCredit: Chris Hyde

Last month, Cr Quirk revealed the contract had been terminated.

While the council and TechnologyOne prepared for arbitration over the failed contract, Labor opposition councillors continued to call for Democracy Intelligence's independent review into the project's failures be released.

Opposition leader Peter Cumming called an urgency motion during Tuesday's council meeting.

"I move that Lord Mayor Graham Quirk ends the cover up and immediately release the report from the external review of the LGS IT project being developed by TechnologyOne ot ensure full disclosure of all issue relating to the implementation," he said.

Cr Cumming said it was important the matters raised in the report be identified so residents and opposition councillors could see where the contract went wrong.

Finance chairman Krista Adams was the only LNP councillor to speak on the motion and said the contract was terminated because TechnologyOne failed to deliver an IT system.

"Council will be seeking damages...the matter will now be referred to arbitration," she said.

"This decision is about the effective use of ratepayer's money and ensuring council's core services are not compromised.

Cr Adams said the council would rely on the independent review during the arbitration process.

"It is council's intention to publicly release the review upon completion of the arbitration process," she said.

Opposition councillor Jared Cassidy for Deagon said the Lord Mayor's actions over the TechnologyOne contract had damaged the council's reputation as an organisation other companies would want to work with.

"This administration is giving this council, and the hard working council officers, a really bad name through their actions," he said.

Cr Cassidy said if a settlement was reached during arbitration, the report would be buried.

Independent councillor Nicole Johnston also spoke in support of the motion and said she was concerned the report had been kept secret.

"I would be very very concerned that if this is going badly for council the Lord Mayor's actions over the last six months have actually inflamed this situation and it is putting the ratepayers of Brisbane at further risk of additional damages," she said.

"If you have got nothing to hide, why not be upfront with the ratepayers of this city.

"Release the report, let's see where the problems are and let us make an informed and transparent decision about how this council spends its ratepayer's revenues."

Cr Johnston asked Cr Quirk what he was trying to hide.

"Why is it you keep refusing to release this report?" she said.

Opposition councillor Shayne Sutton said the debate on the motion was very one-sided and she was interested in what Cr Quirk would have to say on the debate.

"It is my point strong view that the Lord Mayor's refusal to release this report strikes at his very integrity as the Lord Mayor of this city," she said.

"His challenge today is will he show integrity, honesty and accountability and release this report which, if he is to be believed, will support his claims that this bungled contract was no fault of council."

Opposition councillor Steve Griffiths for Moorooka was the last to speak on the motion and said opposition needed to see the report as it was their duty to hold the administration accountable.

"Residents are sick of the secrecy in this council," he said.

"Residents expect us to do our job. We know there is a massive majority of LNP councillors here and they sit quietly here week in, week out going along with the decisions this chamber makes.

"This is the sort of issue that is going on all the time where residents aren't aware reports are being hidden.

"All of us have a duty to ensure we act appropriately for the residents of the city.

"Secrecy shouldn't be the normal way of operating in Brisbane City Council."

Cr Quirk did not speak on the motion.

The motion was not upheld with six councillors voting in favour (opposition councillors and Cr Johnston) and all 20 LNP councillors voting against.

Greens councillor Jonathan Sri was not in the chamber.