Jack Dempsey accuses Greg Barnes of leaking information to the media

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey and councillor Greg Barnes have gone toe-to-toe during a fiery exchange over the councillors’ opposition to a new pool centre costing almost $76 million. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO:

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey accused Division 5 councillor Greg Barnes of speaking with the media during an at-times heated monthly ordinary meeting of the Bundaberg Regional Council on Tuesday.

Mr Dempsey was addressing more than 25 councillors, council workers and members of the public about the $75.8 million Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Facility development when he asked if any councillors had queries or wanted to speak against the motion to award the tender.

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey accused Division 5 councillor Greg Barnes of speaking to the media before opposing a motion.

When Mr Barnes indicated he would comment on the motion, Mr Dempsey said: “Councillor Barnes, that’s a surprise”.

“We have a representative of the media,” Mr Dempsey said, referring to a Bundaberg NewsMail reporter covering the meeting.

“Do you know the representative of the media, Councillor Barnes?” Mr Dempsey said.

“What’s that got to do with anything?,” Mr Barnes asked.

Mr Dempsey replied:

“I was just inquiring if you’d spoken to them already before you were speaking.”

Members of the public gasped at the accusation, while others laughed.

Mr Barnes asked the Mayor if he was being asked that question because of his opposition to the timing of the costly new aquatic centre.

“So you’re not using your position to intimidate me?” he asked.

“No, of course not, Councillor Barnes,” Mr Dempsey said.

“You’ve been an extensive councillor with certain amounts of 20 years of expert experience in relation to these matters; you still didn’t answer the question though Councillor Barnes.”

Mr Barnes ignored the Mayor’s question, continuing his statement opposing the timing of the aquatic centre project.

“Mr Mayor, I’ve made it clear from the start that this is a great project. I’m not against the project one little bit,” he said.

“My concern is that we’ve got a number of balls up in the air at the moment that come with a hefty price tag.

“I’m not convinced that this is the right time to be committing to this level of funding to this project.

“I understand, Mr Mayor, that it’s going to cost a bit more, but that’s the case with any project.

“I respect the fact that this will be a great facility for the community, but I just don’t agree with the timing.”

Mr Dempsey thanked Mr Barnes for his comment, but said the council was financially viable and would continue with the aquatic centre, with the backing of the State Government.

Councillor Greg Barnes said on Tuesday he did not agree with the timing of the new Bundaberg Aquatic Centre.

“As a matter of clarification in relation to your word ‘balls in the air’ or ‘other projects’, I can reassure you that the extensive collaboration, which all councillors have gone though in relation to the detailed financial reports and ten year financial ability of this council incorporating all projects that are listed, is the due diligence which we certainly bring forward, and I again thank the staff,” Mr Dempsey said.

“Just so the community understands, is this decision is made with the support and recommendation of other areas, so when we go through our finances, Mr CEO, besides with the audit and risk committee, [we look at] what other dealings do we have with the State Government to make sure that finances are checked.”

The NewsMail has since been told by a source who watched the drama unfold during a live streaming of the meeting that they have made a complaint to the council watchdog in relation to the incident and the Mayor’s conduct.

In August 2022, Mr Barnes took to social media to claim an investigation by the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) into his email account had been dismissed.

Mr Barnes said a complaint was made to the OIA on May 7, 2021 following a “selective internal audit” of his council email account.

He claimed his account was the “only one” selected for an audit out of more than 800 staff members and elected representatives within the council.