Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey’s alleged conflicts revealed

Jack Dempsey has rejected claims of any wrongdoing as new documents reveal the alleged details of the misconduct claims under investigation by the Councillor Conduct Tribunal. This is what we know:

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey has rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing as new details emerge of misconduct allegations under investigation by the Councillor Conduct Tribunal.

It has been alleged Mr Dempsey failed to declare conflicts of interest at two council meetings in 2016, relating to donations from prominent Bundaberg businessmen.

The matter is under investigation by the CCT, which will hold a hearing about the complaints against Mr Dempsey.

It’s alleged Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey failed to declare conflicts of interests at ordinary meetings of the Bundaberg Regional Council on August 30, 2016 and November 2, 2016.

On March 8, 2016, Compost Works submitted a development application to Bundaberg Regional Council regarding a composting facility proposed at Lot 1, SP285136 Kay McDuff Drive, Thabeban.

It’s alleged the council heard the application was required to be assessed due to airport overlay and bird risk, but was assured there “should be no problem with the application”.

Documents submitted as part of the complaint allege Mr Dempsey was “quick to point out the concerns he has with potential problems with aircraft and birds and asks for a report to be brought to council”.

Developer John Santalucia was one of the objectors to the proposal, with the complaint stating he sent letters to the council opposing the composting facility due to its proximity to his Edenbrook Estate development, about 500m away.

Mr Santalucia called the proposal “not acceptable” in the letter and as such his group had halted further development of the estate.

“It is extremely disappointing that council didn’t seriously consider the effect this enterprise would have to the quality of life of existing residents in Edenbrook, the businesses in the industrial park and the students of Shalom who are all entitled to expect their daily lives to be free from the contamination of polluted air, something they enjoy today,” the letter read.

The complaint documents claim Mr Dempsey had received $1000 from Giovanni “John” Santalucia during his 2012 state campaign.

Mr Dempsey held several roles during his time in state government, including Queensland Minister for Police, and was a police officer before entering politics.

He has also held other roles during his political career including Deputy Chair of The Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee.

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks CEO John McClean also donated $1000 to Mr Dempsey’s successful 2016 mayoral bid just weeks before he opposed the compost facility, the complaint documents claim.

The documents further allege that at some point during 2016, Mr Dempsey made comments to councillors that he “would not be the mayor that loses Bundaberg Brewed Drinks to Brisbane by not having a site for them to build their Super Brewery”.

Between August and November 2016 there were a number of presentations to councillors regarding Compost Works and the bird strike risk the development posed.

The documents further alleged that on November 2, 2016, Mr Dempsey called in to a Bundaberg council meeting from Japan to ensure he took part in the vote about the decision against the airport overlay, voting against it.

He then left the meeting.

It has been alleged Mr Dempsey failed to declare these conflicts of interests at this November ordinary meeting, and at a meeting in August that same year.

Mr Dempsey said Tuesday he rejected the allegations and would defend himself against them.

“I reject, in its entirety, the allegation,” Mr Dempsey said in his statement.

“When the matter proceeds to a hearing before the CCT, I will be strenuously defending it.

“I do, however, respect the legal processes governing how the CCT will proceed to hear and determine this matter.

“As a consequence, I will be making no further public comment about the matter until it has been dealt with by the CCT.”

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and John Santalucia were approached for comment but had not responded by deadline.

A spokesperson for the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning said certain donations did not have to be declared, but conflicts arising from electoral donations must be made transparent.

“The requirements to record gifts in a councillor’s register of interest do not apply in relation to a gift that is required to be the subject of a return under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011, part 6,” the spokesperson said.

“Electoral donations are already subject to transparency and disclosure requirements under the Local Government Electoral Act.

“However, councillors must still ensure conflicts of interest arising from electoral donations are dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the legislation.”

Mr Dempsey ran as an independent candidate for the federal seat of Hinkler in May 2022, naming Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Founder Cliff Fleming as one of the donors to his federal campaign.

In November 2021, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks announced it would start work on a new super brewery at Lot 1, SP285136 Kay McDuff Drive, Thabeban.