Ipswich councillor Paul Tully says he can’t answer questions over Ipswich Community Charity Fund and the $200,000 remaining

A community fund set up in Ipswich to collect money for victims of natural disasters under the previous council administration still has almost $200,000 in it. Former councillors, council executives and council officers served as members.

There is almost $200,000 sitting in a community fund of which veteran Ipswich councillor Paul Tully is still president, with the money in the fund collected from the community to aid victims of natural disasters.

Ipswich Community Charity Fund Inc was established in 2005 and it was run by former councillors, council executives and council officers under the previous administration.

There is still $194,000 in it.

Corrupt former mayor Paul Pisasale previously presided over three separate community and charitable funds, including the Ipswich Community Charity Fund Inc, the City of Ipswich Community Fund Ltd and Ipswich Carols by Candlelight Fund Inc.

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully was first elected in 1979. He was returned to office last year in Division 2.

Cr Tully is still president of Ipswich Community Charity Fund Inc.

The funds are not controlled entities of the council but membership has previously included individuals affiliated with the council.

Councillors, council executives and council officers who served as members did so in a private capacity.

Administrative and accounting support for the three funds has historically been provided by council officers.

The council has no obligation to provide administrative and accounting support to these funds and its only association with the funds is based on certain members being either former councillors or former employees of council.

Council officers do not have any authority to act in any capacity on behalf of the funds and are totally reliant on instructions and approvals from members.

Ipswich Community Charity Fund Inc was set up to collect money for victims of natural disasters.

A council spokesperson said all three funds are still in existence but are not controlled entities of the council.

“At present, neither council nor council officers have any direct ability to take action to wind up the funds,” they said.

“We understand that the winding up of the funds can only be actioned by the members of the funds.

“In relation to the Ipswich Carols by Candlelight Fund Inc, no councillor or officer is a member of this fund to our knowledge.

“In relation to the other two funds, we understand councillor Tully has a role.

“It is council’s understanding that Cr Paul Tully is the president of the Ipswich Community Charity Fund.

“Officers of the council organisation have provided some administrative support to councillor Tully.

“Council officers have no ability to operate bank accounts or authorisation to access records for these funds.”

Cr Tully was Queensland’s longest serving councillor with 39 years under his belt when he was sacked alongside his colleagues by the State Government in 2018.

Ipswich’s councillors were dismissed by the State Government in 2018.

He was returned to office in last year’s election in Division 2.

The council spokesperson said after the election, Cr Tully engaged with council officers regarding the status of the fund.

“Through this, the organisation is aware that the fund is seeking to engage with a third party to provide ongoing administrative and accounting support,” they said.

“The status of any such engagement should be confirmed by the fund.

“Council does not have any capacity to wind up the fund.

“The ongoing nature or wind up of the fund is a decision solely for its members.

“The fund is a separate legal entity to council.

“The ongoing nature or wind up of the fund is a decision solely for its members.

“As an organisation, Ipswich City Council will continue to do all that is appropriate and within its powers to support the members to wind up the funds.”

Cr Tully has not responded to questions about his role with the fund and what is intended for the money despite repeated requests.

Cr Tully spoke publicly about the fund in March last year on ABC radio but would not confirm whether he was still president.

“I was (president of the fund),” he said.

“Council has all the records. I don’t have the records. I don’t know what bank it is. I’m not involved in it. I certainly don’t have an account of $200,000 that I can personally access today.

“The council has the records; you’ll need to ask them.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.