Greg Hallam’s parting shots at CCC, OIA as he exits LGAQ
The chief advocate for Queensland’s local councils has some choice words for two controversial watchdog heads as he bows out after three decades.
Peter Gleeson
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When Greg Hallam stepped down as Local Government Association of Queensland CEO last week, he would have been relaxed about the last two big stoushes he had with authorities.
Over his 30-year tenure as the head of the peak advocacy body for councils, Hallam has locked horns with many a premier and senior bureaucrat.
He was as astute as any politician, with a razor-sharp focus on representing local authorities, whether it be Brisbane or Cunnamulla.
Hallam’s final two salvos were against Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan McSporran and the head of the office of Independent Assessor, Kathleen Florian.
Florian had worked under McSporran at the CCC.
Hallam told the so-called Logan Eight, a group of councillors at Logan sacked by the State Government on the CCC’s recommendation, he would back them all the way to the High Court.
They’d been sacked by then local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe after being charged with fraud after the council sacked former CEO Sharon Kelsey.
Those fraud charges were recently dropped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions after it said the case was weak and it had “struggled’’ with the CCC move.
Hallam accused McSporran of overstepping the mark, and said the CCC had orchestrated a witch-hunt.
Florian was criticised by Hallam after she raised the prospect of misconduct charges being laid against Barcaldine Mayor Sean Dillon.
“The right to political speech is enshrined in the Constitution,’’ he said.
Cr Dillon had been critical of the Government’s vaccination rollout. Florian’s actions were an attack on free speech, he said.
Both McSporran and Florian are under pressure.
McSporran was singled out for strong criticism at a recent parliamentary inquiry into the Logan sackings, with counsel assisting, Jonathan Horton, saying the committee should consider terminating McSporran’s contract.
Hallam will be succeeded as CEO by the LGAQ’s head of advocacy Allison Smith.
