Brisbane Council elections: Candidate Kate Richards ‘exonerated’ after CCC referral

Disendorsed LNP Brisbane City Council candidate Kate Richards has demanded apologies and resignations after her lawyer revealed the corruption watchdog had failed to substantiate the party’s claims against her.

A COUNCILLOR has called on a group of LNP powerbrokers to apologise and resign after her lawyer said the corruption watchdog had cleared her.

Kate Richards, flanked by her husband and three sons, spoke outside Brisbane City Hall this morning, hours after her lawyer Terry O’Gorman said she had been cleared by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

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Cr Richards was disendorsed as the LNP’s candidate for Brisbane’s Pullenvale ward and referred to the corruption watchdog by her own party.

The LNP has never revealed the allegations it made.

“Today, my innocence has proved true,” Cr Richards said in an emotional statement today.

“From the very outset, I’ve been clear that for the past four years, I’ve worked very hard.

“I’ve delivered with integrity for my ward, the Pullenvale ward, more than any prior councillor in that ward.”

Mr O’Gorman said the CCC had told him there was insufficient evidence to substantiate any allegations against Cr Richards or to proceed with criminal offences against her.

Cr Richards said she was seeking the immediate apology and resignation of key LNP members, alleging they had defamed her, threatened and blackmailed her.

“I’m going back to Pullenvale ward, now, to win an election,” she said.

Kate Richards delivers her statement in front of Brisbane City Hall with husband Matthew and sons Hamish, 6, Dom, 15, and Will, 16. Picture: Annette Dew

Cr Richards will be running as an Independent at the March 28 poll.

She called on LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to personally respond to what the LNP had done to her, her family and her ability to run as the party’s candidate.

“As everyone in the (council) team knows, I was innocent from the beginning and they now need to state as such,” she said.

Cr Schrinner said the CCC had a job to do and it had completed its investigation.

“I always said people should not jump to conclusions and be very careful about believing claims that have been unsubstantiated,” he said.

“I will leave all matters to do with the CCC and LNP to them.

“My current focus is leading Brisbane through this coronavirus crisis and ensuring our city keeps heading in the right direction.”

Kate Richards makes her statement as husband Matthew looks on. Picture: Annette Dew

Mr O’Gorman said since the LNP’s announcement last year, he and Cr Richards had constantly described the party’s actions as a “political stunt”.

He said the LNP, as part of an “internal faction fight” designed to remove Cr Richards as the councillor for Pullenvale, had “cynically used self-generated allegations” against her.

“As a civil libertarian I have previously opposed law changes making it a criminal offence for a politically inspired complaint to the CCC to be publicised ahead of local government elections,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“But having regard to the significant career and personal damage done to Cr Richards by the LNP’s behaviour, I now consider publicising making a complaint to the CCC about politicians in the lead-up to an election should be a criminal offence.”

An LNP spokesman said: “The CCC hasn’t yet released their report and the LNP will comment once we’ve seen it.”

A CCC spokesman said: “The Crime and Corruption Commission can confirm it has completed its investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct relating to Cr Kate Richards.

“The CCC expects to release a statement on Monday relating to this matter.

“Until then, the CCC is not in a position to comment further.”