Suspected inappropriate conduct discussed at Bundaberg council meeting

A suspected complaint of inappropriate conduct within the Bundaberg council prompted some intriguing debate and conflict of interest concerns this week.

A suspected complaint of inappropriate conduct within the Bundaberg council prompted some intriguing debate and conflict of interest concerns this week.

Two Bundaberg councillors excused themselves from Monday’s general meeting over a mysterious allegation of inappropriate conduct.

Mayor Jack Dempsey and councillor Wayne Honor left the meeting because they both had a “conflict of interest.”

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“A person could reasonably believe that I may be biased given the person‘s legal representative to which the report relates,” Mr Dempsey said.

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Two other councillors - Greg Barnes and John Learmonth - also declared a possible conflict of interest but stayed in the meeting.

Mr Barnes said he “may” have had a declarable conflict of interest, sparking a short debate with the Mayor over the legal advice he had received.

“...when council considered a similar but completely unrelated matter I left the room, stating that I was philosophically opposed on that occasion,” Mr Barnes said.

He said had been opposed to the condition that council should be “judging one of their own” but had recently received legal advice that he could remain in such meetings.

The council voted that Mr Barnes could stay for the discussion.

Mr Learmonth said his possible conflict of interest was that he had “a relation married to the person in the matter”.

This is the second time since the start of the new year the Bundaberg Regional Council has discussed suspected inappropriate conduct behind closed doors.