Office of Independent Assessor called to investigate Ipswich mayor after report allegedly rewritten
A southeast Queensland mayor could face scrutiny after the state’s council watchdog received a complaint about political interference in official reports.
Ipswich
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A southeast Queensland mayor could face scrutiny after complaints were lodged with the state’s council watchdog about political interference in official reports.
Ipswich City Council said the Office of Independent Assessor was notified after a complaint that Mayor Teresa Harding was allegedly involved in changing official documents.
Cr Harding, elected after promising to remove the name “Paul Pisasale” from city landmarks, denied the claims during a fiery Ipswich City Council meeting in June.
“I’m so offended by that inference,” she said.
“I left that decision (to change the report) to the CEO, and the inference that I did anything improper I rebuke absolutely.”
Mayor Harding was contacted for comment and did not provide a statement.
The mayor raised the report about renaming the bridge with the CEO prior to the changes.
At the meeting, chief executive Sonia Cooper defended changing the document claiming it was not in line with council procedure.
“I feel I could not allow that report to come to the governance and transparency committee and hence amendments were made to the report,” Ms Cooper said.
The allegation, made by former deputy mayor Nicole Jonic, was lodged with the OIA after the council meeting when the controversial decision was made to reinstate the name of the Paul Pisasale Bridge.
That decision was quickly overturned.
Cr Jonic aired her grievances about council documents being changed on Facebook.
“I could not, in good faith, be part of a process that involved political interference of an official report,” she said.
“... Because our elected representatives cannot stand on a platform of integrity and point to the wrongs of the past with one hand, while selectively editing official documents with the other.
“Once that line is crossed, the casualty is the truth.”
The council said it could not comment while the matter was with the OIA.
“In the interests of due process and natural justice, it would be inappropriate for any comment to be made until such time as the matter has been assessed by the OIA.”
Cr Jonic has asked for a special meeting to address the allegations and for councillor guidelines to ensure transparency and integrity.
That meeting is expected to be discussed on July 28.
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